The service pension consists of a transitional allowance and transitional allowances.

Transitional allowance

When your employment with the Bundeswehr ends, you will receive a transitional allowance in the form of a one-off payment.

The amount of the transitional allowance depends on

• the amount of your pay in the last month and
• the length of service you have completed, ranging from 1.5 times your last salary for a period of service of less than 18 months to 12 times your last salary for a period of service of 20 years or more.

Transitional benefits

You will also receive monthly transitional allowances after the end of your employment. The duration of your transitional allowance also depends on your length of service, ranging from 12 months after 4 years of service to 60 months after 12 years of service or more.

If your military training has already led to a successful completion of a recognized training occupation, a qualification at master craftsman level or a university or university of applied sciences degree, the entitlement period for your transitional allowances will be shorter.

Your transitional allowance amounts to 75 percent of your salary from the previous month.

If you were on leave without pay or working part-time in the last month, the pay corresponding to your last rank will be taken as the basis.

If you are taking part in a full-time training program sponsored by the Vocational Training Service, your transition fees will be increased by a training allowance amounting to 25 percent of your last month's pay.

If you receive income from your training measure or other income from employment in the public sector, your transitional allowance will be reduced.

If you were on leave of absence or part-time employment during your period of service without remuneration, the amount of the transitional allowance will be reduced and the transitional allowances will be reduced in proportion to the period of leave of absence in relation to the total period of service. The reduction may be waived for periods of parental leave, for example.

If you were previously a soldier, the amount of your entitlement is determined by the total period of service, taking into account the benefits already granted.

You must pay tax on both the transitional allowance and the transitional allowances.