Pension with 15 years of service in Bulgaria: 2026 calculator
Estimate your pension with 15 years of record using our calculator. Conditions under Art. 68(3) КСО, the formula and how to check your record at НОИ.
Do you not have the full insurance record for a pension? If you have turned 67, you have no right to a pension under the general rule and you have at least 15 years of actual insurance record, you may acquire the right under Art. 68(3) of the Social Security Code (КСО). Calculate your estimated amount with the calculator below and check your insurance data with the National Social Security Institute (НОИ). The data is current for 2026 according to the official information of НОИ.
❓What is the amount of a pension with 15 years of employment record?
Source: КСО, Art. 68(3) and Art. 70
Calculate your pension with 15 years of record
Enter the income from which your pension will be calculated (the average insurable income for the country for the applicable 12 months × your individual coefficient) and the record that НОИ will include in the formula. The calculator automatically applies the guaranteed minimum if the calculated amount is lower:
Calculator: estimated pension amount (2026)
The income for calculation is the average insurable income for the country for the applicable 12 months, multiplied by your personal individual coefficient. A sample value of €1,000 is entered by default. Enter all the years of insurance record that the National Social Security Institute (НОИ) will use in the formula, not just the required 15 years of actual record.
Percentage of the income (record × 1.35%)
20.25%
Pension calculated by the formula
€202.50
Guaranteed minimum for an incomplete record
€295.38
Estimated amount
€295.38/month
The calculated pension is below the minimum, so you receive the guaranteed minimum amount. That is about BGN 577.71 at the fixed rate of €1 = BGN 1.95583. The minimum for an incomplete insurance record (Art. 68(3) КСО) is €274.01 until 30 June 2026 and €295.38 from 1 July 2026, which is 85% of the minimum under the general rule. The calculation is indicative, because the exact amount depends on your individual coefficient according to the data held by НОИ.
The result is indicative. The exact income for calculation, the individual coefficient and the recognised record are determined by НОИ from the data in your insurance file.
Two different minimums: do not mix them up
Check what pension you are entitled to using your ЕГН
The calculator gives a guide, but НОИ calculates from your real data. The two figures differ most often because of the individual coefficient and because of periods that are missing from the register. In the portal you can review your data and the estimated amount for free. (The ЕГН is the unified civil number, Bulgaria's personal identification number.)
Checking your pension with НОИ
The official Single Portal for Electronic Services of НОИ.
Log in with your ЕГН and ПИК
A НОИ personal identification code (ПИК), a National Revenue Agency (НАП) ПИК or a qualified electronic signature (КЕП). The ЕГН is the identifier and the ПИК is the key, so a check cannot be made with the ЕГН alone.
Choose estimated pension
In the Electronic Insurance File. If you already receive a pension, choose the report on the pension granted.
The detailed steps, the difference between a pension granted and an estimated pension, and what to do if you have no ПИК are described in our guide to checking your pension with your ЕГН and ПИК.
Who can retire with 15 years of record?
The possibility of retiring with 15 years of record is regulated in Art. 68(3) of the Social Security Code. It is intended for people who have no right to a pension under the general rule but have reached the required age and have at least 15 years of actual insurance record.
Social Security Code (КСО)
Art. 68(3)
The step of 2 months a year has reached the ceiling of 67 years, so in 2026 the age under this paragraph is exactly 67 years.
Official Bulgarian text
„В случай че лицата нямат право на пенсия по ал. 1 и 2, до 31 декември 2016 г. те придобиват право на пенсия при навършване на възраст 65 години и 10 месеца за жените и мъжете и най-малко 15 години действителен осигурителен стаж. От 31 декември 2016 г. възрастта се увеличава от първия ден на всяка следваща календарна година с по 2 месеца до достигане на 67-годишна възраст.“
Note: actual record versus insurance record
The difference matters: for example, a period of unemployment benefit alone counts as insurance record under Art. 9(2) КСО, but it is not on the legal list for actual record. For periods of sick leave, pregnancy, childbirth or child care, do not rely on general internet tables: the assessment may depend on the legal relationship and on the rules in force during the specific period.
How the pension amount is calculated
The formula for calculating the pension is set out in Art. 70 and Art. 70а КСО. Here is how it works in practice:
Calculation formula
Individual coefficient
Step 1Calculated from your insurable income relative to the national average
Average insurable income
Step 2НОИ uses the average for the 12 calendar months before the month the pension is granted
Income for calculation
Step 3The national average income is multiplied by the individual coefficient
Final amount
ResultIncome for calculation × 1.35% × years of insurance record
20.25%
of the income under Art. 70(3) with exactly 15 years of record (15 × 1.35%)
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
Worked example: pension with 15 years of record
Let us look at an example with an income for calculation of €1,000 and exactly 15 years of record in the formula:
Worked example
Income for calculation (average insurable income × individual coefficient)
€1,000
Percentage for 15 years (15 × 1.35%)
20.25%
Pension calculated by the formula
€202.50
Actual pension (guaranteed minimum)
About BGN 577.71. The minimum for an incomplete record from 1 July 2026.
€295.38
The amount calculated by the formula is below the minimum, so the guaranteed minimum for an incomplete insurance record is paid: €274.01 until 30 June 2026 and €295.38 from 1 July 2026.
If the calculated amount is lower, a pension under Art. 68(3) cannot be below the special minimum for an incomplete record, shown above.
€295.38
Guaranteed minimum for an incomplete record (from 1 July 2026)
Source: 85% of €347.51 under the general rule; €274.01 until 30 June 2026
What counts as actual record
Not all periods count as actual record. Here is what is recognised and what is not:
Counts as actual record
These periods are recognised as actual record
Work under an employment contract*
Work under a civil service relationship*
Compulsory self-insurance with the contributions due paid*
Work under another relationship with compulsory pension insurance*
Conscript military service*
Counts in full
The periods under Art. 7 of the act on the rehabilitation of repressed persons*
* Mandatory
Does NOT count as actual record
These periods are NOT recognised towards the 15 years of actual record
Period of unemployment benefit
Counts only as insurance record
Purchased record under Art. 9а(1) or (2) КСО
The narrow exception in para. 3 is only for certain repressed persons
Sick leave and maternity: an individual assessment is needed
How to check your record
Before relying on the calculation, check your insurance periods for free through the НОИ portal. The report helps you find missing data, but it does not replace the legal assessment of which periods are “actual record” for Art. 68(3):
Steps for checking your record
The official portal for electronic services
Identify yourself
With a ПИК from НОИ, a ПИК from НАП or a КЕП
Choose the insurance record report
Find the section Pensions and insurance record
Review the details
You will see a breakdown by year and employer
You can get the same record report through НОИ with your ЕГН and ПИК, see the detailed steps in our separate article.
Missing periods?
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
Important deadlines and ages for 2026
The conditions for retiring differ depending on whether you have a full record or the minimum of 15 years. Here are the current requirements for 2026:
67 years
retirement age with 15 years of record (Art. 68(3))
This is the same for men and women
| Condition | Age | Insurance record |
|---|---|---|
| Full record (women) | 62 years 6 months | 36 years 10 months |
| Full record (men) | 64 years 9 months | 39 years 10 months |
| Minimum record (Art. 68(3)) | 67 years | 15 years actual |
Conditions for retiring in 2026.
Want to see your exact year of retirement? See the retirement table by ЕГН. If you do not have 15 years of actual record, check whether you are entitled to a social pension without an employment record, and in case of a health problem, to a disability pension through the expert medical commission (ТЕЛК).
Can you buy missing record?
The law allows you to buy insurance record for completed higher or semi-higher education (up to the length of the curriculum) and for an acquired “doctor” degree. Separately, after reaching the age under Art. 68(1), you can buy up to 5 missing years for the right under Art. 68(1) and (2). But note: there is an important limitation.
Important before you buy record
€109.03 / €122.80
Price of 1 month of purchased record in 2026
Source: €109.03 until 31 July (19.8% × €550.66); €122.80 from 1 August (19.8% × €620.20)
Buying record makes sense if you are a few months short of the full record for a regular pension (under Art. 68(1) or (2)), after you have reached the required age. It will not help with the condition of 15 years of actual record, however.
The only exception is narrow: persons repressed under the Act on the Political and Civil Rehabilitation of Repressed Persons may buy up to three missing years towards the condition under Art. 68(3) (Art. 9а(3) КСО).
Frequently asked questions
Does military service count? Yes, conscript military service counts in full as actual insurance record.
Does work abroad count? It depends on the country. For work in the EU the record is usually recognised under the European regulations. Submit a request to НОИ for your specific case.
Can I receive a pension and work? Yes, you can receive a pension and keep working. Insurance record acquired after retirement may be included in a recalculation under the procedure in КСО.
Have another question? Ask Pravko directly: we help for free with questions about pensions and social insurance.
⚠️ Important
Pravko provides legal information, but it does not replace advice from a lawyer. For important legal matters, consult a licensed lawyer.
