Employees in the German public sector receive, alongside the statutory pension, an additional occupational pension. It is called Zusatzversorgung (supplementary pension) and is in most cases run by the VBL (Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder). Knowing the basics makes it easier to assess your total retirement income.
Short answer: According to the VBL, employees in the public sector are automatically registered in the VBLklassik (in German) if they meet the collective agreement conditions. Registration takes effect from the first day of employment. In the western collective bargaining area, funding is through contributions to pay-as-you-go schemes, in the eastern area partly also through capital funding. Data status: June 2025, figures as at 31.12.2024.
The most important points
- The supplementary pension adds to the statutory pension for employees in the public sector.
- According to the VBL, employees covered by a collective agreement are automatically registered in the VBLklassik.
- In the western area funding works through pay-as-you-go contributions, in the eastern area it is mixed.
- According to the VBL, benefits include an old-age pension, a pension for reduced earning capacity and a survivors pension.
- The scope of your entitlements is shown in the statement from your employer and the VBL, not by a rule of thumb.
Who is registered in the supplementary pension?
According to the VBL presentation, employees covered by a collective agreement are registered automatically in the VBLklassik, provided they meet the conditions. Registration takes effect from the first day of employment. The brochure does not explain the conditions in detail, so it is worth asking the personnel department at the start of your contract.
How is the supplementary pension financed?
Funding depends on the collective bargaining area. In the western area it runs through the so-called sliding section coverage method (gleitendes Abschnittsdeckungsverfahren) via contributions. In the eastern area the VBLklassik is mixed-financed, through contributions and through capital funding. The brochure does not state a contribution rate in percent, so no figure is given here.
| Collective bargaining area | Funding according to the VBL | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| West | Pay-as-you-go contributions in the sliding section coverage method | Financing is reviewed regularly, the contribution rate every five years |
| East | Mixed funding from contributions and capital-funded payments | Two building blocks determine the funding |
Which benefits are there?
For the VBLklassik, the VBL names three types of benefit: the old-age pension as a lifelong occupational pension, the pension for reduced earning capacity in cases of partial or full reduced earning capacity, and the survivors pension. The brochure gives no details on the amount or waiting periods of each benefit, so no figures are shown here.
The statutory pension counts in the overall picture as well. For periods before your career begins, see pension insurance during studies (in German). For teacher training and the legal clerkship, separate overviews exist, such as insurance from studies to the clerkship (in German) and pension insurance during the clerkship (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Does this also apply to civil servants?
This guide covers the supplementary pension for employees. Civil servants have a different pension structure. The VBL brochure gives no details on this, so the question stays open here and should be clarified with your employer.
Do I have to apply for the supplementary pension?
According to the VBL presentation, registration for employees covered by a collective agreement happens automatically, provided the conditions are met. Whether everything is correctly registered in your case is confirmed by the employer or the VBL.
What happens if I change to another public employer?
The brochure contains no information on this. When changing employers within the public sector, it is worth asking whether the pension continues and which entitlement remains. This information comes from the employer and the VBL.
What to do next
- Check at the start of your contract whether you are registered in the VBLklassik.
- Request information on your accrued entitlement from the VBL.
- Clarify questions on funding and benefits with the personnel department.
- Include the supplementary pension in your overall planning, see the overview of retirement provision 2027 (in German).
How the statutory pension and the supplementary pension work together
The statutory pension remains the foundation of retirement provision. The supplementary pension is added as a second pillar, provided you are registered in the VBLklassik. Both benefits are determined by different bodies, so the statements arrive separately. Only together do they give a picture of your total retirement income.
Anyone who wants to assess their situation therefore needs two statements: the pension statement of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung and the VBL statement on your accrued entitlement. The two complement each other and do not replace each other.
What you can check at the start of your contract
- Whether your employment contract refers to the collective agreement that governs the supplementary pension.
- Whether your registration with the VBL took effect from the first day of employment.
- Which personnel office confirms the registration and who answers questions on funding.
- Whether earlier periods of public-sector employment were taken into account.
Topics to raise with the personnel department
The personnel department can provide information on registration, on funding in your collective bargaining area and on documents. It is the first point of contact because it manages the notifications to the VBL. Ask for written confirmations so that you can prove your status later.
How to include the supplementary pension in your planning
The supplementary pension works like a fixed building block alongside which you can plan private provision. Once you see which benefit types exist, you can decide whether additional private provision makes sense. The comparison between a company pension and a pension depot is covered in Company pension or pension depot: which option suits you? (in German).
Who should look more closely?
Anyone working in the public sector on fixed-term contracts or moving between collective bargaining areas should check registration and entitlement early. Changes in particular raise questions that a single statement can settle quickly.
Typical uncertainties when changing jobs
When changing employers within the public sector, questions about entitlements often arise. The VBL brochure describes the basics, not every individual case. It is therefore advisable to request information on your accrued entitlement before the change, so that the status is known.
- Which entitlement has been built up so far and how it is documented.
- Whether the new employer participates in the same pension system.
- Which documents the previous employer provides for the handover.
Is the supplementary pension the same as a company pension?
The supplementary pension is a form of company pension (betriebliche Altersversorgung) for employees in the public sector. It is run through the VBL and differs in funding and process from private company pensions that an employer offers individually. How the two forms differ depends on the specific arrangement.
Related articles
- Retirement provision 2027: overview of the pension depot, early-start pension and Riester
- Teacher training: insurance from studies to the clerkship (in German)
- Legal clerkship and pension insurance (in German)
- Pension insurance during studies (in German)
Sources: VBL company brochure (German text, status June 2025, figures as at 31.12.2024, retrieved November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
