Data from the authorities show that more than a million pensioners continue to work – probably because of financial hardship.
Berlin – The debate about raising the pension level in Germany is by no means new. It has been conducted for decades, primarily before the federal election, as it takes place in September. The federal government’s latest project is the basic pension. This allowance is intended to ensure that senior citizens can live above the poverty line. Anyone who has worked long hours and thus paid compulsory contributions to the pension fund is entitled to a basic pension supplement. An experiment has already investigated whether you can live on the basic pension in Germany.
Data from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs show that such approaches are urgently needed. A request from Dietmar Bartsch, a member of the Bundestag for the Left, shows that more than a million people over the age of 67 still have a job in Germany. Of these, around 600,000 are over 70 years old, and 220,000 are at least 75 years old. The motives of these people are not clear. Experts from labor market research certify that current retirees are in better average health than any previous generation. In addition, the motivation to pursue a fulfilling job in retirement is often very high.
Pension in Germany is often not enough
In most cases, however, the motive is likely to be of a financial nature. Data from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs show the average pension level in Germany in 2020. Around nine million senior citizens received 1,192 euros a month from the statutory pension insurance. Around 15 million senior women, on the other hand, received only 803 euros per month: amounts that in many cases lead to financial hardship if those affected do not continue to work, for example in a mini-job, or the family provides additional support. According to the report of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, which is based on data from the Federal Statistical Office, someone is considered “poor” as soon as they have less than 1,074 euros a month at their disposal.
Bartsch is critical of this: “Of course there are employees who work voluntarily into old age, but for many it is the sheer financial need to have to earn something.” Johannes Vogel, pension policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, sees it differently: ” The fact that many people want to stay longer in their professional life is very good news – the bad news is that there are still many hurdles here. The greatest relief would be a flexible retirement age instead of a rigid age limit. “
Many pensioners are also faced with the problem that their pensions are taxed twice. The Federal Fiscal Court recently announced a landmark ruling on double taxation of pensions. (tu / dpa)
