Age when your pension starts

You choose when the pension you have accrued at Pensioenfonds Witteveen+Bos will start. The earliest it can start is on your 55th birthday; the latest is on your 67th birthday. The earlier your pension starts, the lower the payment you will receive each month.

You receive your pension for as long as you live.

On your pension overview and on www.mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl, you can see how high your pension will be if you choose for it start on your 67th birthday. You can also see how high it will be if you choose for it to start two years before the state pension (AOW) age. Starting at other moments is possible too. If you would like to know how your pension will be affected by when it starts, get in touch with us.

Part-time pension

You do not have to retire completely at one time. You can also choose to start a portion of your pension first and start your full pension later. In this situation, you continue to work part-time while receiving a portion of your pension. A part-time pension is either equal to 10 % of your accrued pension or to a multiple of this figure. The hours you then work are reduced by the same percentage as the percentage of your pension that you choose to start.

High-low pension

You can also choose to receive a higher pension for a few years and then a lower pension. The pension you first receive will be higher than what is shown on your pension overview; then, after a few years, it will be lower. You can choose the moment at which it changes from high to low:

- when you turn 67
- when you begin receiving your AOW
- when you turn 72.

If you choose for your pension to start on your 67th birthday and elect for a high-low pension, then your pension will automatically change from high to low when you turn 72. If you choose for your pension to start earlier, then the other two moments for it to change are also possible.

The higher pension is 33 1/3 % higher than the lower pension. The exact characteristics of any high-low pension, however, depend on when the pension starts and how long the higher pension lasts.

A high-low pension can be useful for bridging a gap between when you retire and when you start receiving your AOW. If you choose to receive a higher pension until you start receiving your AOW, the extra pension may not be more than twice your AOW benefit, including your gross holiday allowance and, if relevant, any other mark-ups for a married person whose partner is younger than the AOW age.

Choosing a high-low pension does not affect your partner’s pension.

If you opt for this choice, advise the fund of your decision at least two months before the date you wish for it to start. Once you have made this choice, you cannot change it again later.

Converting your pensions (for you and your partner)

You can convert your partner’s pension into extra pension for yourself. Then, if you die, your partner will not receive a benefit from Pensioenfonds Witteveen+Bos. Your partner must agree to this decision.

The reverse is also possible: you can convert a portion of your pension into extra pension for your partner.

After conversion, your partner’s pension may not be higher than your own converted pension. Your partner’s pension, including any partner’s pension for a former partner, may also not exceed 70 % of the pensionable salary (or ‘pensioengevend salaris’ in Dutch) which you received immediately before you retired.

If you opt for this choice, advise the fund of your decision at least two months before the date you wish for it to start. Once you have made this choice, you cannot change it again later.