If you decide to withdraw from second-pillar pension funds, it is recommended to submit two requests in the following order: first, a request to suspend supplementary pension saving, and then a request to terminate supplementary pension saving. Both requests must be submitted directly to your pension fund management company, not to “Sodra”.

This is important because if you submit only one request to terminate saving, 3% of your salary will still be deducted for several more months. “Sodra” will confirm the termination decision only after the end of the quarter. Contributions deducted in the meantime will later be refunded to the employer, who will then transfer them to the employee, and salaries and “Sodra” taxes will have to be recalculated. As a result, the entire process takes longer and causes additional inconvenience.

By submitting two requests—one for suspension and one for termination—the 3% contribution will be deducted for only one month. From the following month, additional contributions will no longer be deducted, your net salary will increase sooner, and there will be no need for refunds or additional recalculations for either the employer or “Sodra”.

It is important to know that “Sodra” does not see the submitted request until the pension fund management company accepts it and registers the decision in the Pension Accumulation Register. Until then, “Sodra” continues to deduct pension contributions from wages unless the person has submitted a request to suspend saving. In the personal “Sodra” account, only those contributions that have already been transferred to the pension fund are visible. The total accumulated amount together with investment returns can be seen only in the pension fund management company’s account.

If saving was only suspended, but you wish to fully withdraw from second-pillar pension funds, you must additionally contact the pension fund management company and submit a request to terminate saving.

During the transitional period, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, it is possible to opt out of pension benefit payments and receive the entire remaining unpaid amount as a one-time lump sum. In this case, the request is also submitted to the pension fund management company. The company makes its decision after the end of the quarter and transfers the funds to the specified account within 10 working days.

Conclusion: submitting two requests allows the entire process to be completed faster, more simply, and in a financially safer way for the employee.

Keywords: work for drivers, work for long-haul drivers, pension system, pension funds