Early retirement: apply for your pension before the normal age

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve, certificado digital or DNIe. Without one of these you’ll need a cita previa at the INSS.
2. Vida laboral and bases de cotización up to date. They tell you if you reach 33/35 years and how the cut affects you.
3. IBAN of the account. They’ll pay into that.
4. If it’s involuntaria: the employer’s certificado de cese for the dismissal/ERE and DARDE proving 6 months of jobseeker registration.
5. If you ask for the gender gap supplement: libro de familia or birth certificates.

Documentation

1. DNI/NIE and nº de la Seguridad Social.
2. Informe de Vida Laboral.
3. Informe de Bases de Cotización (últimos años).
4. IBAN.
5. Certificado de cese por causas objetivas/ERE o resolución judicial (involuntaria).
6. DARDE con 6 meses de inscripción (involuntaria).
7. Libro de familia o certificados de nacimiento (si procede complemento).
8. Resolución de discapacidad (si accedes por vía de discapacidad).

Step by step

1. Go to Tu Seguridad Social (https://tu.seg-social.gob.es) and use the Simulador. You’ll see your access age, whether you can do 2 or 4 years and how much they cut.
2. Download your Vida Laboral and Bases from Importass (https://importass.seg-social.es). Check for gaps and that periods are counted correctly.
3. If you go involuntaria, register at the SEPE (https://sede.sepe.gob.es) and stay 6 months as a claimant. Ask the company for the certificado de cese.
4. In Tu Seguridad Social, start “Jubilación”, choose voluntaria/involuntaria, pick the date, upload PDFs and sign. Save the receipt.
5. No certificado? Book a cita at a CAISS (https://sede.seg-social.gob.es/wps/portal/sede/sede/Ciudadanos/Cita+Previa) and hand in the application with the documents.
6. Watch Mis gestiones and Notificaciones (https://carpetaciudadana.gob.es). If they ask for corrections, upload them on time.

Tricks that save time

1. Run the simulator first: if you don’t reach 33/35 years, consider a convenio especial or waiting.
2. Upload clear, light PDFs (preferably <10 MB). Blurry photos = requerimiento and delay.
3. Chrome/Firefox work better with Tu Seguridad Social. Avoid Safari on older phones.
4. Citas are released early. If none appear, try mid-morning or other days. Keep trying.
5. If you’re autónomo, check Importass that you don’t owe contributions. If you do, sort it before they make a decision.

Common mistakes that will mess up the process

1. Thinking the reduction is temporary. It’s for life.
2. Going for involuntaria without 6 months of DARDE or without the certificado de cese. Denial likely.
3. Ending up with a voluntary pension below the minimum: they’ll deny it.
4. Choosing a date that doesn’t meet the minimum age according to your contribution record.
5. Not checking gaps and bases: the calculation can drop more than you expect.
6. Filing late: there are only 3 months of retroactivity and you’ll be paid later.
7. Uploading incomplete or unreadable documents. Requerimiento and weeks lost.