Luxembourg - Invalidity pension

This chapter provides information about what you need to know to claim invalidity pension.

If you have worked and paid social security contributions in another European Union country, the corresponding periods may be taken into account to determine your right to invalidity benefits in Luxembourg.

In what situation can I claim?

If you are a salaried employee under the age of 65, you can claim an invalidity pension to subsidise your needs if you are unable to carry out your profession or any other occupation corresponding to your strengths or skills.

Please note: your invalidity pension is converted into an old-age pension when you reach the age of 65.

What conditions do I need to meet?

The invalidity assessment is made based on the opinion of the Contrôle Médical de la Sécurité Sociale (CMSS).

The criteria required for the allocation of the invalidity pension are as follows:

you must be under 65 years of age;
the invalidity criterion must be recognised by the CMSS;
you must have been affiliated to the insurance system for at least 12 months over the three years prior to the date of invalidity or the expiry of sickness cash benefits. No minimum affiliation period is required if the invalidity is caused by an accident (of any kind whatsoever) or a recognised occupational illness which arises during the period of affiliation;
you must not perform any unsalaried activity subject to insurance. This means any activity whose professional income exceeds one third of the minimum wage.
the beneficiary of an invalidity pension under the age of 50 may be obliged to undertake rehabilitation or professional conversion measures ordered by the pension fund upon request from the CMSS.

Where the invalidity is temporary, the pension takes effect upon the expiry of sickness cash benefits, or after an uninterrupted period of invalidity of 6 months.

Where the invalidity is permanent, the pension takes effect from the first day of the establishment of the invalidity. In the event of continued remuneration from the employer, it is paid as of the end of the remuneration period. If it is not possible to establish the date when the invalidity started, the pension will be effective from the date of presentation of the claim.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

The invalidity pension may be paid for a set period (temporary invalidity) or without a time limitation (permanent invalidity). It is paid by the National Pension Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Pension - CNAP).

Calculating the pension

The invalidity pension is calculated using four elements:

flat-rate amounts: these are granted based on the duration of the insurance coverage. The maximum number of years taken into account is 40.
proportional amounts: these are granted based on the income received over the course of the insurance period. They are calculated by multiplying the amount of income with an increase rate which varies depending on the year in which entitlement to a pension begins.
special flat-rate amounts: the aim of these is to extend artificially your insurance career to the age of 65 if you have to stop working before retirement age for health reasons.
special proportional amounts, which take into account artificial income for the prospective period from the beginning of the pension up to the age of 55.

Further information about pension calculations is available on the website of the National Pension Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Pension).

Jargon busters

Social Security Medical Inspectorate (Contrôle Médical de la Sécurité Sociale - CMSS): Competent administration for all medical issues. Its opinions are binding on the social security institutions.
National Pension Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Pension - CNAP): Contact body for all persons covered by the pension insurance scheme for the private sector.
Minimum wage: the minimum salary which employers are required to pay their employees. The salaries, pay and social security benefits (except for family benefits) including the minimum wage, are indexed to changes in the cost of living.

Forms you may need to fill in

Invalidity pension claim form

Know your rights

The link below provides a legal definition of your rights. It is not a European Commission website, nor does it represent the views of the Commission: