The regular retirement age in Romania is age 65 for males and 61 years and 10 months for females (gradually increasing to age 63 by January 1, 2030) with at least 15 years of contributions to the Romanian system. Early retirement is possible under the system, provided the worker exceeds the full contribution period by at least eight years and is no more than five years under the standard retirement age at the time of filing.

Additional retirement age reductions are available to the following:

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  Persons who contributed under special, difficult, or other specific working conditions;

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  Persons who contributed to the system while being disabled;

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  Persons persecuted for political reasons by the former communist regime;

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  Blind persons; and

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  Other categories of persons, defined by special legislation.

  The Romanian system requires a minimum of 15 years of coverage for entitlement to an old-age benefit but provides incentives in the form of a higher benefit amount for workers making additional contributions to the system. Additionally, Romania supplements benefit amounts for workers who meet the criteria for an early retirement benefit but elect to defer receipt of their benefit past the retirement age.

The Romanian system pays benefits to three categories of disability beneficiaries. Category I disabled workers are completely incapable of work and self-sufficiency, requiring constant care and assistance. Category II disabled workers have also lost all work capacity but retain a degree of self‑sufficiency. Category III disabled workers have lost at least 50% of their work capacity but are still able to perform some professional activity.

In order to qualify, a worker must be under the standard retirement age, have at least a 50% reduction in capacity for work, and have a minimum specified amount of coverage as follows:

Age at Time of Onset Minimum Contributions

Up to age 20 1 year

20 - 23 years old 2 years

23 - 25 years old 3 years

25 - 29 years old 6 years

29 - 33 years old 9 years

33 - 37 years old 11 years

37 - 41 years old 14 years

41 - 45 years old 17 years

45 - 49 years old 20 years

49 - 53 years old 23 years

53 - 57 years old 25 years

57 - 60 years old 26 years

60 years or older 27 years

The minimum benefit amount since January 1, 2022 has been RON 1,000 ($218.10) per month. There is no statutory maximum benefit amount.

To receive benefits, a surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased worker for at least ten years at the time of death and have reached the standard retirement age or have an income that is less than a statutorily defined amount.

A disabled surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased worker for at least one year.

The following categories of children may receive benefits.

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  Children of the deceased worker under age 16

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  Children of the deceased worker ages 16-26 and attending school or an apprenticeship

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  Disabled children of the deceased worker at any age, provided their disability began prior to age 16 or age 26 if in school or an apprenticeship.

Romania will pay a death grant to an eligible family member of a deceased worker if the deceased worker was receiving a benefit or was covered under the Romanian system at the time of death.