A disability pension (BU-Rente) is the monthly payment you receive if you become unable to work in your occupation. As a student it is hard to choose the right amount, because your future income is still unknown. This guide shows how to derive the pension from your real needs and which other benefits you have to take into account.
Short answer: A disability pension should cover your monthly needs in an emergency, minus other benefits such as a statutory pension for reduced earning capacity. There is no statutory percentage rule. Calculate your needs for after you start working, not your current student budget. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- The disability pension is the amount you receive each month if you can no longer work in your occupation.
- The amount should follow your needs after you start working, not your budget as a student.
- Statutory pensions for reduced earning capacity apply only under certain conditions and often do not cover the full gap.
- A higher pension means a higher premium, so it must remain affordable over the long term.
- Whether and how the pension can be increased later is shown by the future insurability guarantee in your contract.
What Does Disability Pension Mean?
Disability insurance pays out if you can no longer practise your last occupation because of illness, injury or a decline in strength beyond normal ageing, and this is expected to be permanent, fully or partly. The statutory definition is set out in § 172 of the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG). The disability pension is the monthly benefit you then receive. You fix its amount when you take out the contract.
For students this is particularly tricky, because there is no occupation practised yet against which the pension can be measured. Many tariffs therefore contain a rule for the future occupation. How your tariff handles this is stated in the terms. An overview of disability insurance for students is available in the German guide on BU as a student.
Which Benefits Already Apply in an Emergency?
Before you fix the pension, you should know which other bodies pay something in an emergency. The most important is the statutory pension for reduced earning capacity under § 43 of the German Social Code Book VI (SGB VI). It depends on how many hours a day you can work and on your contribution record.
| Level | Working capacity under the law | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Full reduction in earning capacity | Less than 3 hours a day | Three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years before onset |
| Partial reduction in earning capacity | 3 to under 6 hours a day | Three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years before onset |
| No entitlement to this pension | 6 hours or more a day | Not applicable |
The statutory pension measures your capacity against any conceivable activity, not against your own occupation. It is therefore often lower than a private disability pension tied to your profession. Whether you meet the requirements depends on your past contribution periods. A degree alone does not create compulsory contributions, although a working-student job subject to pension insurance can count.
How to Calculate Your Disability Pension Step by Step
- List your fixed costs after starting work: rent, health insurance, other insurance, mobility and phone.
- Add your living costs, such as food, clothing, leisure and reserves. Use a realistic assumption.
- Include a buffer for unexpected costs. You set the amount yourself and should mark it as an assumption.
- Deduct other benefits you can reliably count on, for example a statutory pension if the requirements are met.
- The result is the amount your disability pension should ideally cover. Round it with your premium budget in mind.
Worked Example: A Pension of 1,700 Euros
Assumption: you calculate with a need after you start working. All amounts in the table are assumptions for illustration only. Use your own figures.
| Item | Assumption in euros per month |
|---|---|
| Rent including utilities | 650 |
| Health insurance | 300 |
| Other insurance and retirement provision | 150 |
| Living costs | 500 |
| Mobility | 100 |
| Total need | 1,700 |
| Deduction for a statutory pension for reduced earning capacity (assumption: not certain) | 0 |
| Reference figure for the disability pension | 1,700 |
This reference figure shows how large the gap is. If you cannot afford the full pension now, it can make sense to choose a lower pension first and increase it later through the future insurability guarantee, explained in the German guide on the guarantee. The reference figure is a planning target, not a promise. In a claim, the insurer checks whether and to what extent the conditions are met. You should therefore know the terms on waiting periods, exclusions and the description of your occupation before you fix the amount.
Why Not Simply Choose the Highest Pension?
A high pension sounds like more security, but it has a price. The premium rises with the pension, and you pay it for many years. If you can barely afford the premium while studying, you risk gaps, cancellation or a loss of protection exactly when you need it. A pension you can pay reliably is usually a better choice than a high pension that causes constant money worries.
Are There Upper Limits?
Many insurers set maximum amounts that depend on income or occupational group. This varies by tariff and should appear in the offer. Ask before you sign what the upper limit for your course of study is, and get the answer in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fixed rule for how high a disability pension should be?
No, there is no statutory percentage rule. Many advisers orient themselves on later net income. What matters most is your actual need, which you calculate yourself using stated assumptions.
Should I choose a higher pension because I will earn more later?
Not necessarily. Higher future income does not automatically mean higher needs. Someone who already lives on a high budget has different expenses from someone with low fixed costs. Plan with your need, not with a hope of higher income.
Can I still change the disability pension later?
An increase is possible only if the tariff provides for it, often through the future insurability guarantee. A reduction is generally possible only through a change to the contract or the tariff. The terms define exactly what is possible.
What pension can I typically choose as a student?
This cannot be stated in general terms. The amount depends on your tariff, your age, your course of study and your health. A reliable calculator or a consultation will give you an offer with exact figures.
What to Do Now
- Calculate your need after you start work in a table where every assumption is visible.
- Check which statutory benefits are realistic for you and note the conditions they require.
- Compare two or three pension levels and calculate the premium for each.
- Have the limits and increase options confirmed in writing before you sign. For a personal assessment you can contact Academycon, see how we work (in German).
Related Reading
- Future insurability guarantee: raise your disability pension after starting work
- Disability insurance as a student: what does it really cost?
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Disability insurance for students: the large guide 2026 (in German)
Sources: § 172 VVG, disability insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de, status October 2026); § 43 SGB VI, pension for reduced earning capacity (gesetze-im-internet.de, status October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
