Notional (Credited) Years 2026: How Many Can Be Recognized per Fund, Buy-Back Cost & Discounts

30 March, 2026 09:22

Πλασματικά έτη 2026: πόσα αναγνωρίζονται ανά Ταμείο, κόστος εξαγοράς & εκπτώσεις

What you can “build” with credited years, which ones are beneficial, what you pay and when—explained with simple examples.

Credited (notional) years are one of the most useful retirement tools, because they can be added to your actual insurance years and help you obtain:

✅ A full pension instead of a reduced one (especially around age 62)
✅ A higher pension amount (by increasing your total years and the replacement rate)

From 1 January 2026, the full national pension amount is €446.87 (gross). This matters because in a reduced pension, the penalty (up to 30%) applies to the national pension, not the contributory part.

How many credited years can be recognized per fund (2026)

📌 Private sector (IKA / Special Funds for public utilities & banks)

Up to 7 years (for pension eligibility from 2013 onward)
Common categories: military service, studies, children, unemployment, illness, insurance gaps

📌 Public sector

Up to 7 years (for eligibility from 2013 onward)
+ up to 5 additional years for children
➡️ In the public sector, the total can reach up to 12 years in many cases.

📌 OAEE – ETAA (self-employed professionals)

Up to 7 years (for eligibility from 2013 onward)
In some cases, time before official registration in the professional registry may also count.

📌 Farmers (former OGA)

The cost calculation follows the rules for non-salaried workers (see below).
Recognition follows the general categories of credited years.

⚠️ Note: The exact limits and combinations depend on when the pension right is established (year, 25/35/40 years of insurance, etc.). A quick check of the insurance history is usually needed for an accurate result.

Types of credited years you can choose (examples)

The most common categories include:

🎖️ Military service (up to 720 days)
🎓 Studies (up to 4 years)
👶 Children (up to 5 years)
🧩 Insurance gaps
🤒 Illness periods
🧑💼 Unemployment
📚 Educational leave (up to 2 years in the public sector)
🧾 Pre-registration period for self-employed professionals (OAEE/ETAA, where applicable)
…and other special cases depending on the insured category.

Buy-back cost (2026) 💶

Salaried employees (private sector)

20% of the salary of the month when the application is submitted
If there is no stable employment: 20% of the average salary of the last 12 months

For unemployment or part-time work:

20% of the minimum wage

➡️ With the minimum wage at €880, the minimum cost is about €176 per month.

Public sector

For applications from 2020 onward: 20% contribution rate
For applications up to 2019: lower graduated rates depending on the year of application

Self-employed professionals & farmers

Each month of recognition costs the same as the monthly pension contribution, depending on the insurance category selected.

Discounts & payment methods ✅

💳 Lump-sum payment (within 3 months of the decision):

2% discount for each full year of recognized time.

🗓️ Installments:

Number of installments equal to the number of months recognized.

➖ In some cases, deductions from the pension are also possible (up to 1/4 of the monthly pension).

👉 Usually it is beneficial to:

apply early (if salary or contributions are expected to increase)
pay lump sum to receive the discount.

When it is most beneficial

🔎 Especially when 1–3 credited years can:

Secure a full pension instead of a reduced one (so you receive the full national pension)
Increase the total years of insurance, which raises the contributory pension amount

🙂 Would you like a personalized check?

At myKEP, we can perform a quick review and tell you: