An old-age pension (senatvės pensija) is paid to everyone who has made social insurance contributions for a particular period of time or who has been insured through other means. This section presents current information on the two-pillar pension system that operates in Lithuania.

In what situation can I claim?

The pension system in Lithuania is made up of three Pillars in which pensions are accumulated differently.

Pillar I is the State social security system through which individuals are insured or insure themselves for a Social insurance pension.

Pillar II - New sources of financing have been introduced in 2019: person’s private contribution (3% from the person’s gross wage) and the state’s contribution (1.5% from the national average wage). Transfers of social insurance contributions to the Pillar II funds are not any longer possible.

Once a pension fund scheme has been set up, it is not allowed to withdraw before reaching pension age.

Pillar III is the voluntary contribution to a pension fund or participation in a life insurance scheme. Everybody can participate, including those who do not make pay contributions to SoDra and who do not participate in Pillars I and II.

Social assistance pensions are payable to those who are not entitled to social insurance old age pensions or for whom such pensions would be very small.

What conditions do I need to meet?

The following have the right to receive a pension from SoDra:

• those who have reached retirement age. The retirement age is currently being increased year by year to 65. You may use this calculator to find out the pension age;
• those who have at least the minimum social insurance pension record of 15 years.

Those participating in a funded pension scheme (Pillar II) acquire the right to receive a pension on reaching retirement age, or if they are awarded an early old-age pension.

The following have the right to receive social assistance pension:

• those who have reached retirement age. The retirement age is currently being increased year by year to 65;
• those who are not entitled to social insurance old age pensions or for whom such pensions would be very small.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Entitlement to the old age pension requires a minimum pension social insurance record of 15 years. In 2023, a full old-age pension is payable to those who have accumulated a contribution record of 33 years.

Application may be made for the receipt of an old-age pension 3 months prior to reaching retirement age or at any time after this.

Those who participated in a pension cumulation scheme should apply to the company organising the scheme who will advise whether you will be awarded an annuity (see Jargon busters) or whether you may withdraw the total accumulated sum in a lump-sum or in instalments.

Social assistance old-age pensions depend on the social assistance pension base set by the Government and the coefficient which is 1 (EUR 184).

Social assistance pensions are payable from the date of entitlement. They may be granted retroactively up to 6 months preceding the submission of all the necessary documents to the local SoDra.

Jargon busters

• SoDra - The State Social Insurance Fund Board under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the principal body that organises social security.
• Insured income - the sum of a person's income from which state insurance payments are deducted.
• Pension annuity - a participant in a pension programme is paid a pension for life in instalments, with all the risk falling on the payer - the life assurance company.

Forms you may need to fill in

• A personal identification document;
• Documents proving your length of service up to 1994 http://www.vilnius.lt/index.php?2137359300.

Know your rights

These links will help you find out what your rights are. These are not European Commission websites and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission:

• Ministry of Social Security and Labour information
• Old-age pension age calculator
• Pension calculator

European Commission publications and websites:

• Social security coverage: your rights as an EU citizen abroad

Who do you need to contact?

SoDra, Tel. 1883 or +370 52500883

Lithuanian Bank Supervisory Service, Tel. +370 52680501, e-mail: pt@lb.lt