Since the beginning of 2005, the MEL pension has accrued based on earnings. The pension amount is affected by the length of your working career, earnings during your working career and the age-related accrual rate.

Pension accrual starts when you reach 18 years of age. Pension does not accrue from employment before the age of 18, and MEL insurance contributions are not levied or paid before then.
 
The MEL pension is determined in line with either the special accrual rates or the general accrual rates that are the same as under the Employees’ Pensions Act (TyEL).

As a rule, the MEL pension is determined in line with MEL special accrual rates if

• you continue in a MEL employment contract until you reach your retirement age, or
• you are in a MEL employment contract at the onset of disability and your earnings insured according to MEL for the preceding three years total 21.050,470 euros (2011 index). (The earnings requirement does not apply to people born before 1950).

The MEL pension is determined in line with MEL general accrual rates if your MEL employment contract ended before you reached retirement age or the onset of disability.

Your pension accrues from earnings as follows:

Between the ages of 18-52

Your pension accrues at an annual rate of 1.6% (special accrual rates) or 1.5% (general accrual rates) on your earnings from the beginning of the month following your 18th birthday until the end of the month when you reach the age of 53.
 
Between the ages of 53-62

Your pension accrues at an annual rate of 2.0% (special accrual rates) or 1.9% (general accrual rates) on your earnings from the beginning of the month following your 53rd birthday until the end of the month when you reach the age of 63.
 
Between the ages of 63-68
 
Your pension accrues at an annual rate of 4.5% on your earnings from the beginning of the month following the month you reached the age of 63 until the end of the month when you reach the age of 68.