Social security levies: Wirtschaftser warns of a drastic increase in cost

The economy Martin Werding expects social security contributions in Germany to 50 percent of the gross income. “The question is not whether the contribution rates reach 50 percent at some point, but when it happens,” said Werding of the “Rheinische Post”. “The current development is breathtaking. Due to the progressive demographic aging, the upward trend without reforms in the 2030s continues,” emphasized Werding.

The economist awaits the next premium increase in the coming year: “At the beginning of the year, health insurance contributions have broken the 17 percent mark on average. Since then, several cash registers have raised their additional contributions again, and the average is currently 17.5 percent,” said Werding of the newspaper.

“The sum of all social contributions is likely to increase from 42 percent to 43 percent in the current year, because a new increase can also be expected at the turn of the year in long -term care insurance,” added to the economy.

The pension fund was later affected: “In 2027 or 2028 at the latest, pension contributions, which have now remained constant at 18.6 percent for a long time, will increase to almost 20 percent. By the end of this legislative period, a tax burden of 45 percent is in sight,” said Werding and warned thoroughly.

What is currently being discussed is far from sufficient. Werding gives examples of the raising of contribution assessment limits and the involvement of civil servants in social security. This would sometimes tear open holes elsewhere, “for example in the households of the countries that employ the majority of officials.”

Werding has been a member of the business council since September 2022. He has been a professor of social policy and public finances at the Ruhr University in Bochum since 2008. Before the Bundestag election 2021, Werding presented a study on the concept of the so -called stock pension of the FDP.