The retirement age for women increases from January 1, and the full contribution period is also increased, according to the new pension law, which provides, among other things, the granting of stability points for people who have exceeded 25 years of age on the date of retirement.
The retirement age increases for women from January 1. Archive photo
From January 1, 2026, the gradual increase in the retirement age continues, according to the new pension law, which is gradually implemented until 2035, in the sense of aligning the retirement age for women with that of men, based on an established program, and the new pensions will be calculated (or recalculated) also based on additional income (increments, premiums, overtime) to which contributions have been paid.
In 2026, the retirement age for women increases from 62 years and 6 months in January to 62 years and 8 months in January 2027, the full contribution period being increased from 33 years and 3 months in Jan 26 to 33 years and 8 months in Jan 27. The minimum contribution period remains the same, 15 years, according to the law.
How many stability points can women who have reached the full contribution period receive
In the case of people who have completed a period of contributory contributions greater than 25 years, a number of stability points are granted for the period of contributory contributions that exceeds this ceiling, as follows:
a) 0.50 points for each year achieved over 25 years up to 30 years inclusive, 0.04167 points for each month, respectively 0.00139 points for each day;
b) 0.75 points for each year achieved over 30 years up to and including 35 years, 0.06250 points for each month, respectively 0.00208 points for each day;
c) one point for each year achieved over 35 years, 0.08333 points for each month, respectively 0.00278 points for each day.
The retirement age for women will be equal to that of men – 65 years – in January 2035, with the full contribution period being 35 years and the minimum retirement period 15 years.
From 2035, retirement age will be linked to life expectancy
After January 2035, the retirement age will be increased every 3 years by correlation with life expectancy in Romania.
“Starting with the date of completion of the scaling provided for in Annex No. 5, the minimum period of contributory contributions, the full period of contributory contributions and the standard retirement age, provided for by this law, are increased depending on the evolution of life expectancy in Romania, at a maximum interval of 3 years”it is stated in the new pension law that entered into force on September 1, 2024.
Life expectancy in Romania is among the lowest in the EU, standing at around 76-77 years, with significant differences between women (around 80 years) and men (around 72-73 years), according to 2023-2024 data from INS and Eurostat.
In the European Union, life expectancy is 81.4 years.
Although total life expectancy has increased in Romania, healthy life expectancy (years lived without health problems) is much lower, showing a large difference in years lived in disease conditions, especially in men.
Under what conditions can the retirement age for women be reduced
However, the new pension law also provides for situations in which women can retire earlier.
Women who have given birth and raised children up to the age of 16 benefit from the reduction of the retirement age by 6 months for each child, so that for raising two children the retirement age is reduced by 1 year, for four children by 2 years, and for six children by 3 years.
Women who have given birth and raised children up to the age of 16 benefit from the reduction of the retirement age by 6 months for each child, so that for raising two children the retirement age is reduced by 1 year, for four children by 2 years, and for six children by 3 years.
As for early retirement, it can be obtained at most 5 years before reaching the standard retirement age if the person has achieved 5 years more than the full contribution period, i.e. over 35 years, resulting in early retirement can be obtained if the person has worked for 40 years.
However, the anticipated pension will be penalized for each month of anticipation by: 0.4% if the period of contribution period achieved over the full contributory contribution period is up to 1 year, between one year and 2 years the penalty is 0.35%, between 2 and 3 years – 0.30%, between 3 and 4 years – 0.25%, between 4 and 5 years – 0.20%.
When retirement age is reached, the pension is automatically calculated.
