The pension is and remains a political issue. What changes should pay attention to in the coming weeks, especially in March and April.
Traditionally, the proposals of the federal governments on the annual pension development were announced at the end of March. The currently managing government is planning this in April for this year. Their council of experts had calculated an increase of 3.5 percent in December.
In March, the new health insurance contributions and the new additional contributions of the health insurance companies will be released for the first time for pensioners. The latter pay for retirement retailers in half. A change in cash can be worth cash.
As every year, voluntarily pension insured persons can deposit one -time contributions by March 31. Minimum is 103.42 euros, the highest possible amount is 1,497.30 euros. Such voluntary, additional payments increase the later pension entitlement, and can be stated in the income tax return – therefore with a tax -reducing effect.
If – as currently expected – coalition negotiations between the Union and the SPD are coming in the federal government, pension policy should also be an issue this March. The election programs of the parties mentioned at least do not contradict each other. They don’t want to change the current rules at the retirement age. The SPD is aiming for the long -term securing of the current pension level of 48 percent of the average wage available. The CDU plans to continue working in pension and subsidize private pensions for 6 to 18 year olds. The CSU wants mothers to better put mothers in the pension through longer crediting times for childcare than before. What does it come? Negotiation matter, but quite compromise.
Source: Stern
