What does the new pension scheme mean for Bert?
Your pension will soon fluctuate more in line with the economy.
What does this mean for your pension horizon?
What does the new pension scheme mean for Bert?
Pensioenfonds PDN aims to move to the new pension scheme on 1 January 2027. Your pension will also move to this new scheme.
Your pension will then fluctuate more in line with the economy. As a result, we expect your pension to increase sooner in the future. At the same time, just as is the case now, your pension may also decrease if the economy experiences a prolonged downturn.
Of course, you want to know what this means for your pension payment. That’s why we’ve made a short video to explain, calmly and step by step, what’s changing and how this will affect you.
Watch the video below!
Frequently asked questions
General
Will anything change in the surviving dependents' pension for my partner? +
In addition to your own pension, the pension your partner receives if you pass away will also increase as a result of the transition bonus.
However, for some pensioners, the partner’s pension may temporarily be lower. This applies to those who:
- retired immediately after finishing their pension accrual, and
- have a partner who is younger than the State Pension Age (AOW age).
Under the current rules, that partner receives a supplementary partner’s pension on the death of the pensioner. This supplementary partner’s pension compensates for the income that the state pension would provide and stops once the partner becomes entitled to the state pension.
In the new pension, this supplementary partner’s pension must be discontinued. For pensioners who retire immediately after finishing their pension accrual, and leave behind a partner younger than the State Pension Age (AOW age), this means that the partner’s pension until the State Pension Age will be around €22,000 per year lower than it is now.
For those concerned, it is sensible to consider whether additional arrangements are needed – for example, taking out a temporary life insurance policy to compensate for the missing income.
What changes on 1 January 2027? +
On 1 January 2027, you’ll switch to the new pension. Your pension will then change more in line with the economy.
How will that affect your pension? +
We expect your pension to increase more quickly than is currently the case. However, if the economy performs poorly for a long period, your pension may also decrease.
Why will there be a new pension scheme? +
Under the current rules, it is difficult to increase pensions in line with rising prices. With the new rules, we expect pensions can be increased sooner.
Will my pension increase immediately? +
When you move to the new pension, you receive a one-off increase. We call this the transition bonus. This will increase your pension.
Where does the transition bonus come from? +
Pensioenfonds PDN currently has a large financial buffer. A significant part of this buffer is released when we move to the new pension scheme. PDN distributes that released amount among all members of the pension fund.
How high will my transition bonus be? +
That depends on the financial position of the pension fund on 31 December 2026.
When will I know how much my pension will be? +
At the end of November 2026, you will receive an initial estimate of your new pension. During 2027, you will receive the final calculation of your pension amount.
When will I receive my new pension? +
We expect payments to start in March or April 2027.
Will I already receive the new amount in January 2027? +
No. In the first months of 2027 you will still receive your current pension. PDN needs this period to calculate your new pension. To do so, PDN needs the final figures from 31 December 2026.
Where can I go if I have any questions? +
If your question is not listed here, please contact the Pension Desk.
Telephone number and email
+31 (0)88 - 3601 555
PDN@dpspensioen.nl
Events
Will I receive back payments for the first months of 2027? +
Yes. With your first new pension payment, you will also receive a back payment for the earlier months.
Will my pension retain its purchasing power? +
That is the goal. Whether it succeeds depends on investment results and price increases.
Will my pension still rise with inflation? +
Not automatically. Increases depend on investment results.
How does Pensioenfonds PDN try to prevent a decrease? +
Pensioenfonds PDN spreads financial setbacks over several years to absorb financial shocks, pursues a careful investment policy, and uses a solidarity reserve to keep your pension stable if the first two measures are not enough to prevent a decrease.
Can the funding level still fall (significantly) before we move to the new pension? +
The Board has taken measures to keep the fund’s strong financial position, and therefore its high funding level, as stable as possible leading up to the new pension scheme.
The main risks for a fall in the funding level are:
- Falling stock markets
- Falling interest rates
At the end of 2024, the board reduced these risks by lowering the share of equities in the investment portfolio and further hedging interest-rate risk.
In mid-2026, the Board took an additional measure against falling stock markets ahead of the transition date.
This reduced the risk of large declines. The funding level may still fluctuate, but likely less sharply than without these measures.
You can compare it to shock absorbers on a car. They don’t remove the bumps in the road, but they do make them less severe. These measures help reduce the impact of developments in financial markets and make them less noticeable.
What is the solidarity reserve? +
It is a reserve that can be used to prevent pension reductions as much as possible. This reserve is filled at the transition to the new pension scheme with part of PDN’s buffer. The reserve can be used when the economy performs poorly and replenished when the economy performs well.
Is the likelihood of a pension reduction higher or lower than it is now? +
Based on current expectations, the likelihood of a reduction is lower than under the current rules. This would require a long period of severe economic downturn. But if that situation occurs, the reduction could be larger than under the current pension.
How will my pension develop after 2027? +
From 2028 onwards, Pensioenfonds PDN reviews investment results each year. Based on those results, your pension may increase or decrease.
Why doesn’t my pension fluctuate strongly right away? +
Pensioenfonds PDN spreads positive and negative results over several years. This means annual changes are usually smaller.
Does Pensioenfonds PDN already know how high my pension will be in 2027? +
No. That depends on the financial position of the pension fund at the end of 2026.