In November 2026 the PGU (Pensión Garantizada Universal, Chile's universal guaranteed pension) pays a maximum of CLP 250,275 a month to people aged 75 or over and CLP 231,732 to those aged 65 to 74. The full amount goes to people whose base pension is up to CLP 789,139; between that figure and CLP 1,252,602 a partial PGU is paid, and above that ceiling there is no entitlement, according to ChileAtiende and the Superintendencia de Pensiones (SP).
It is the state benefit with the widest reach in the pension system: as of November 2025 it was paid to 2,225,101 people, according to the SP. Under the pension reform (Law 21,735), the maximum amount is being extended by age group until it reaches everyone aged 65 or over in September 2027.
View the data as a table
| Maximum PGU, aged 75+ | CLP 250,275 |
| Maximum PGU, aged 65-74 | CLP 231,732 |
| Highest base pension that still qualifies | CLP 1.25 million |
| Beneficiaries (Nov 2025) | 2.23 million |
How much the PGU pays in 2026
The PGU is adjusted every February 1 by the previous year's CPI. In 2026 the rise was 3.45%, the 2025 inflation reported by INE: the amount for people under 82 went from CLP 224,004 to CLP 231,732, and for those 82 or older from CLP 250,000 to CLP 250,275 (that group rose only 0.11%, the October-December inflation, because its amount had been set in September 2025). Our CPI analysis looks at how much prices have risen this year, the figure that will set the February 2027 adjustment.
| Parameter | Until Jan 31, 2026 | From Feb 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum PGU (under 82) | CLP 224,004 | CLP 231,732 |
| Maximum PGU (82 and over) | CLP 250,000 | CLP 250,275 |
| Lower threshold (full PGU) | CLP 762,822 | CLP 789,139 |
| Upper threshold (ceiling) | CLP 1,210,828 | CLP 1,252,602 |
Source: Superintendencia de Pensiones. From September 1, 2026, the CLP 250,275 amount was extended to people aged 75 or over. The Undersecretariat for Social Security estimated that the increase reached more than 500,000 people aged 75 to 81, automatically and with no application needed.
- February 2022The PGU is createdLaw 21,419 creates the Universal Guaranteed Pension with an initial amount of CLP 185,000.
- September 2025Aged 82+: CLP 250,000First step of the pension reform increase (Law 21,735).
- February 2026CPI adjustmentRises to CLP 231,732 (under 82) and CLP 250,275 (82+).
- September 2026Aged 75+The maximum CLP 250,275 amount reaches people aged 75 or over.
- February 2027Next adjustmentAdjustment by 2026 CPI.
- September 2027Aged 65+The maximum amount is extended to all beneficiaries from age 65.
Since it began in 2022 at CLP 185,000, the maximum PGU has risen 25.3% for the 65-74 group and 35.3% for those 75 and over. The first increase reflects the yearly CPI adjustments; the second also includes the pension reform increase, which is paid for with public funds.
PGU requirements
According to ChileAtiende, four conditions must be met to receive the Universal Guaranteed Pension:
- Age: 65. The application can be filed from age 64 years and 9 months.
- Means test: not belonging to the richest 10% of the population, measured with the Puntaje de Focalización Previsional (pension targeting score).
- Residence: at least 20 years in Chile, continuous or not, since age 20, and 4 of the last 5 years before applying.
- Base pension: equal to or below CLP 1,252,602.
Continuing to work or already receiving a pension does not prevent someone from getting it, but any pensions the person receives are added to the base pension. People who saved in an AFP receive the so-called contributory PGU (1,609,470 people as of November 2025) and those with no pension of their own receive the non-contributory one (615,631). How much the AFP contributes depends on savings and returns: our story on AFP returns compares funds A to E.
How much you get depending on your base pension
If the base pension falls between CLP 789,139 and CLP 1,252,602, the PGU shrinks proportionally. The Superintendencia de Pensiones calculates it as maximum PGU × (upper threshold − base pension) ÷ (upper threshold − lower threshold). With 2026 values, each extra CLP 10,000 of base pension cuts the PGU for ages 65 to 74 by about CLP 5,000. Here are some cases, calculated by Pauta Financiera:
| Base pension | PGU aged 65-74 | PGU aged 75+ | Total income (75+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLP 300,000 | CLP 231,732 | CLP 250,275 | CLP 550,275 |
| CLP 789,139 | CLP 231,732 | CLP 250,275 | CLP 1,039,414 |
| CLP 900,000 | CLP 176,301 | CLP 190,409 | CLP 1,090,409 |
| CLP 1,000,000 | CLP 126,301 | CLP 136,408 | CLP 1,136,408 |
| CLP 1,100,000 | CLP 76,301 | CLP 82,407 | CLP 1,182,407 |
| CLP 1,200,000 | CLP 26,301 | CLP 28,406 | CLP 1,228,406 |
| CLP 1,252,602 | CLP 0 | CLP 0 | CLP 1,252,602 |
The 75-and-over column applies the same formula to the CLP 250,275 amount. The exact figure appears in the IPS payment statement, because the base pension is recalculated whenever the parameters change with CPI.
View the data as a table
| Aged 75+ | Aged 65-74 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0k | CLP 250,275 | CLP 231,732 |
| 200k | CLP 250,275 | CLP 231,732 |
| 400k | CLP 250,275 | CLP 231,732 |
| 600k | CLP 250,275 | CLP 231,732 |
| 789k | CLP 250,275 | CLP 231,732 |
| 900k | CLP 190,409 | CLP 176,301 |
| 1,000k | CLP 136,408 | CLP 126,301 |
| 1,100k | CLP 82,407 | CLP 76,301 |
| 1,200k | CLP 28,406 | CLP 26,301 |
| 1,253k | CLP 0 | CLP 0 |
An example with an AFP pension of CLP 400,000
A 70-year-old receiving CLP 400,000 from their AFP has a base pension below CLP 789,139, so they get the full PGU of CLP 231,732, for a total monthly income of CLP 631,732. At 76, they would receive CLP 250,275 and their income would reach CLP 650,275: being over 75 is worth CLP 18,543 a month, about CLP 222,516 a year. That gap closes in September 2027, when the maximum amount reaches everyone from age 65.
By contrast, a 70-year-old with an AFP pension of CLP 1,000,000 falls in the partial band and receives CLP 126,301 of PGU. Anyone whose base pension exceeds CLP 1,252,602 gets no PGU, even if they meet the age and residence rules. It pays to check the payment statement every February, because the thresholds rise with CPI and a pension that was left out may move into the partial band.
Does your institution serve pensioners or older adults? Advertise on Pauta Financiera and reach readers checking their pension.
See advertising optionsHow many people receive it and where they live
Of the 2,225,101 beneficiaries as of November 2025, 57.9% are women. The Santiago Metropolitan Region accounts for 846,647 (38%), followed by Valparaíso (252,814) and Biobío (206,520); the regions with the fewest are Aysén (11,793) and Magallanes (19,888), according to the SP. The SP released the breakdown for all 16 regions only as an image, so the remaining 11 are grouped here.
How it differs from an AFP pension
An AFP pension comes from the savings each worker built up in their individual account plus the returns on their fund. The PGU, by contrast, is a state payment that does not depend on how much the person contributed: IPS pays it with public funds, and in 2022 it replaced the old-age Basic Solidarity Pension and the old-age Solidarity Pension Contribution, under Law 21,419.
That is why the two add up. Someone who retires through their AFP keeps that pension and, if they meet the requirements, gets the PGU on top. What reduces the PGU is not having savings but having total pensions (the base pension) above CLP 789,139. The pension reform did not change that logic: it raised the maximum amount and set the age-based timetable that ends in 2027.
How to apply for the PGU and how it is paid
The PGU is paid monthly by the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS). To apply, ChileAtiende offers these channels:
- Online: eligibility can be checked at mi.chileatiende.gob.cl with your RUN and date of birth; applying requires ClaveÚnica.
- Phone: call center 101 (or +56 4 4236 2000 from abroad).
- In person: ChileAtiende branches and Express kiosks, municipalities with an IPS agreement, or the person's AFP or insurance company.
- Video service from ChileAtiende. A representative can apply with a notarized power of attorney.
People still working can top up the PGU with their own savings. APV voluntary pension savings come with tax benefits for doing so, and our story on the pension gap estimated by the OECD looks at how far Chilean pensions fall short.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the PGU in November 2026?
Up to CLP 250,275 for people aged 75 or over and up to CLP 231,732 for those aged 65 to 74, if their base pension does not exceed CLP 789,139.
Do I have to apply for the PGU increase?
No. The September 2026 increase for people aged 75 or over was automatic and appears in the payment statement.
When does the PGU rise for people aged 65 to 74?
In September 2027, when the maximum amount is extended to all beneficiaries from age 65. Before that, in February 2027, the annual CPI adjustment applies.
Can I receive the PGU if I keep working?
Yes. Working does not prevent it; what matters is meeting the age, means-test and residence rules and having a base pension below the ceiling.
Can foreigners receive the PGU?
The law does not require Chilean nationality, only residence: at least 20 years in Chile since age 20 and 4 of the last 5 years before applying, plus the age, means-test and base-pension rules.
What is the base pension?
It is the sum of the pensions the person receives (for example, from their AFP), excluding the PGU. Someone with no pension has a base pension of zero and receives the full PGU.
This information is journalistic and educational. Check your own case with ChileAtiende or IPS.
