Reaching retirement age does not mean the pension starts automatically the following day. In 2026, the normal age for accessing the old-age pension is set at 66 years and nine months, according to Order No. 358/2024, but it is necessary to submit a formal application to determine the start date of the pension, without confusing this moment with the last working day.
For workers covered by the Labour Code, there is no general rule requiring the last working day to coincide with the day the normal retirement age is reached. Article 343 of the Labour Code provides for old-age retirement as a cause for contract termination, but Article 348 establishes that, if the worker remains in service after 30 days from the knowledge of retirement by both parties, the contract becomes a fixed-term contract, for six-month periods. Furthermore, it is generally possible to receive the old-age pension while earning income from work, except in specific situations such as pensions derived from absolute disability.
The old-age pension is due from the date of the application or from the date indicated by the beneficiary, when the request is submitted in advance. Submitting the application after reaching the normal age does not allow backdating the start of the pension to the day that age was reached, nor does stopping work replace submitting the application. The application can be submitted up to three months in advance, online through the Social Security Portal or at a service desk, including the National Pension Centre.
The granting of the pension also depends on, in addition to the applicable age, having at least 15 calendar years of contribution records. A long contribution record can allow a personal access age lower than the normal age. It is important to note that the date from which the pension is due does not necessarily coincide with the day of the first payment, as the time required to grant the pension varies depending on the process.
