Special Pensions in Colombia: Who Can Retire Before Age 62

## The general regime isn't for everyone

The general retirement age in Colombia is 62 for men and 57 for women (with 1,300 weeks of contributions). But some groups have special conditions that let them retire earlier.

1. High-risk workers

Article 18 of Law 100 of 1993 and Decree 2090 of 2003 create special pensions for workers exposed to activities that are high-risk to their health.

Applies to: firefighters, diving personnel, aviation workers exposed to radiation, underground mining personnel, workers at extreme heights.

Benefit: they can retire up to 5 years before the general age, with additional contributions from the employer.

2. Mothers of children with disabilities

Law 100 of 1993 (article 33, paragraph 4) allows a mother who has had a child with a disability recognized by a specialist physician to deduct 2 years from the retirement age for each child with a disability, up to a maximum of 8 years.

Requirement: proving the child has a disability and that the mother provided their care.

Example: A 57-year-old mother with 2 children with disabilities can retire at 53 (57 - 4).

3. Transition regime under Legislative Act 01 of 2005

People who, as of April 1, 1994, were at least 35 (women) or 40 (men), or had 15 years of contributions, qualified for a transition regime with more favorable conditions.

This regime expired in 2014 for everyone except those who had 750 weeks of contributions by 2005 (who could extend it to 2010).

Today, the transition regime is practically extinct, but if you're unsure whether it applies to your case, it's worth checking.

4. Survivor's pensions

When a pensioner or contributor dies, their beneficiaries (spouse, common-law partner, children) are entitled to a survivor's pension: - Spouse or common-law partner: 100% of the deceased's pension (if they were already retired) - Children under 18, or up to 25 if studying - Children with disabilities: no age limit

5. Substitute indemnity

For someone who doesn't complete enough weeks to retire, there's a substitute indemnity: the fund refunds the contributions made plus actual interest.

At Colpensiones, you can apply when: - You reach retirement age without the required weeks - It's estimated you won't reach the required weeks

Do you think you might qualify for a special pension, or have questions about how many weeks you've contributed? We can review your work history and guide you through your pension options.

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