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Agricultural pension fund; application for exemption from compulsory insurance for family members working for the fund

If you work as a relative in an agricultural business, you can be exempted from compulsory insurance with the Agricultural Pension Fund under certain conditions.

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Procedure details

If you wish to be exempted from compulsory insurance with the Landwirtschaftliche Alterskasse, you must submit an application.

Those insured with the Landwirtschaftliche Alterskasse are eligible to apply, including family members who work for the fund. Working family members are

  • related to the farmer or married to the farmer and
  • work full-time in his or her agricultural business.

They must have a reason for being exempted. Possible reasons for exemption are, for example

  • You regularly earn more than twelve times the mini-job limit per year outside agriculture.
  • You are compulsorily insured in the statutory pension insurance scheme, for example because you are raising children.

The exemption usually begins as soon as the conditions for exemption are met. You must submit the application within 3 months. If you apply later, the exemption will apply from the day you apply for it at the earliest.

The Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture can also determine your insurance obligation retroactively. In this case, the application period for the exemption begins with the notification of the decision on the current insurance obligation to the Agricultural Pension Fund.

The exemption from compulsory insurance ends as soon as the conditions are no longer met. If the conditions for exemption cease to apply or change, you must report this immediately.

You are subject to compulsory insurance with the Landwirtschaftliche Alterskasse. You have received a corresponding notification.

You can apply for exemption from compulsory insurance if you meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • You regularly receive more than twelve times the annual mini-job limit in remuneration, earned income or comparable income (replacement income such as unemployment benefit, sickness benefit or pension) outside of agriculture
  • Compulsory insurance in statutory pension insurance due to raising a child
  • Compulsory insurance in statutory pension insurance due to caring for a person in need of care
  • Compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance due to military or civilian service
  • receipt of unemployment benefit II if you were not insured with the Agricultural Pension Fund in the last calendar month before receiving unemployment benefit II.
  • You cannot meet the 15-year qualifying period required for a standard old-age pension from the Agricultural Old-Age Fund because you reach the standard retirement age sooner.
    • The exemption for this reason is final. The periods of insurance with the Agricultural Pension Fund and with other pension schemes such as the statutory pension insurance can be credited towards the waiting period.

  • Required Documents
    • Application for exemption from compulsory insurance
    • written proof of the reason for exemption

    You can find out which documents are required in your case from the application form.

    • in case of application by other persons:
      • Power of attorney or
      • order of the court

You can apply for exemption in writing, in person, by telephone or online. In order to meet the deadline, you can initially submit the application for exemption informally, for example by telephone.

Written application:

  • Download the application form for exemption from compulsory insurance from the website of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture.
  • Complete the form in full and compile the required documents.
  • Send your completed and signed application with the required documents by post to the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture.

Apply online:

  • If necessary, register on the service portal of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture. When you register, you will receive your personal access data by post.
  • Go to the service portal of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture and log in there.
  • Complete the web form and upload the necessary documents via the mailbox function. Once your details have been confirmed, your data will be transmitted online to the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture.

Apply in person during the consultation:

  • Compile the documents required for the application.
  • Make an appointment with the Agricultural Pension Fund or an advice center of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture.

Applying by telephone:

  • Call the service number of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture and ask to be put through to the person responsible for processing your application.
  • They will take up your application within the deadline.
  • You will then receive the form required for the complete application by post or electronically.

At the end of the process, you will receive notification of your exemption from compulsory insurance.

Note: A person you trust can also submit your application for exemption on your behalf. To do this, submit a corresponding power of attorney to your agricultural pension fund. As long as the power of attorney is valid, your agricultural pension fund will only contact your authorized person.

There are no fees for processing the application.

The exemption begins as soon as the requirements are met if you submit the application within 3 months.
If you submit the application later, the exemption begins at the earliest from the day on which you submit the application.
If compulsory insurance has been established for the past, the period begins with the notification of the decision on this compulsory insurance.

Once all the necessary application documents have been submitted, the Agricultural Pension Fund usually makes a decision within 2 weeks. (2 weeks)

The following instructions apply:

Initially, the application can also be informal in order to meet the deadline.

  • An objection can be lodged against the notice of exemption within one month (3 months abroad) of its notification.
  • If the appeal is unsuccessful, there is the option of taking legal action before the social court.

Status: 17.10.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales
Source: Federal Portal
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