How the DGT's position has evolved
Current position
The retirement contingency occurs, as a general rule, upon accessing total retirement. If the collection of the partial retirement benefit begins before total retirement, the contingency is understood to have occurred at the moment of accessing partial retirement. The period for applying the 40% reduction for contributions made prior to 2007 depends on the date of said contingency.
The DGT's position remains constant throughout the analyzed sequence. All rulings agree that the contingency is total retirement, unless the collection of partial retirement begins, in which case the contingency shifts to that moment.
Analysis based on 23 of 24 rulings with a stated position. Updated 24 September 2026.