Discount with pension card: You get these discounts

The pension certificate is an official document of the German pension insurance. Retirees can use it to prove their status as pension recipients. This can be worth money. Pensioners can benefit from discounts and benefits in many areas. For some jobs you have to present your pension certificate, for others it only depends on a certain age. The most important points at a glance.

Previously, the pension certificate had to be cut out of the pension notice using paper scissors. It now comes in a practical credit card format. Since July 2020, the pension card has been automatically sent to every new pensioner with the welcome letter from the “Pension Service”. It does not have to be applied for separately.

It is a foil-backed paper ID card on which your name, date of birth and pension insurance number are entered. There are also plans to introduce a digital pension card that you can carry with you on your smartphone. The start date of the digital pension card has not yet been set.

Pensioners can take buses and trains cheaper in many places. Many transport companies offer special monthly passes for seniors or other discounts for public transport. In some cases, the cheaper tickets are linked to pension status, which can be proven with a pension certificate, but in other cases they are only linked to a certain age. The latter also applies to Deutsche Bahn train tickets. The railway offers discounted single journeys and senior rail cards for people aged 65 and over.

Many cultural events offer reduced tickets for pensioners. This can be the case, for example, in the theater and opera, in the cinema or at concerts and sporting events. Museums and exhibitions also often offer cheaper tickets – from Hamburg’s Miniatur-Wonderland to the German Museum in Munich. Pensioners also pay reduced admission to many zoos, swimming pools and amusement parks.

There are numerous adult education offerings for pensioners. Numerous adult education centers not only offer special courses for seniors, but also offer pensioners reduced fees across the entire course program. At many universities, pensioners can also take part in courses as part of senior studies.

The library card can also be cheaper: In many public libraries, pensioners pay a reduced annual fee. Some libraries also offer computer courses or other offerings specifically for seniors.

Stores, online shops and restaurants sometimes also offer pensioners cheaper prices. Some restaurants have discounted “senior plates” or “senior portions” on the menu. According to a market check by consumer advice centers, around one in five restaurants offers smaller portions of regular main dishes. However, only some of them are explicitly designed for seniors, and here too the waiter is unlikely to ask for a pension certificate.

If you lose your pension card, you can order a new one online. There is a separate page for this on the Deutsche Post “Pension Service” website.