Finance in old age
Too little pension? How the state helps you
The pension is often not enough to live – around 15 percent of retirees in Germany are threatened by poverty. But government grants and discounts can help.
“Older people mostly live in secure financial circumstances,” says the latest pension report by the Federal Government. The monthly household income of pensioner pairs is therefore almost 3800 euros net today. With single male seniors it is around 2200 euros, pensioners come to almost 1900 euros. These are average values, statistics. And they not only record statutory pension payments, but also company pensions and income from private provision. These include life and pension insurance, Riester pensions, interest and dividends as well as rental income. So much for average over everyone.
A deeper view of the statistics reveals: more than 3.5 million pensioners are at risk of poverty today. You have to do – alive alone – with less than 1380 euros net per month. This is shown by the latest surveys by the Federal Statistical Office. A number of state grants and discounts can help these people, more than 15 percent of today’s pension recipients.
Basic security in old age
Anyone who has age income of less than 924 euros a month can have a claim to the so -called basic security in old age. The German pension insurance advises this. As a rule, 563 euros for single people and 1012 euros for couple households are granted. In addition, the housing costs are covered in the first year. From the second year, the employment office will check the appropriateness of the apartment.
The basic security is therefore not paid out in general, but according to the individual needs check-comparable to the citizens’ allowance procedure. In addition to the income of a pensioner budget, any savings are also taken into account. In the first year, 40,000 euros were spared from settlement, and 10,000 euros from the second year. Other members of the household may have a gentle assets of 15,000 euros.
The number of basic security recipients in old age has increased continuously in recent years, and more than 650,000 pensioners recently.
Basic pension surcharge
Anyone who has accumulated at least 33 years of basic pension times, but only has a very low payment claim, will receive the so -called basic pension surcharge. And automatically, without a separate application. The German pension insurance checks whether the necessary requirements are met. If this is the case, the surcharge is paid out to those affected. The height is therefore individual and is noted in the pension notice. The exact calculation is abundant. For orientation: For a pensioner with 985 euros old -age pension after 40 years of insurance, the surcharge would be around 100 euros per month.
Important: In the 33 minimum years, reference times of unemployment benefit and help (today citizen benefit) are not included. Times of voluntary contribution payment and so -called accounting times (pensions due to reduced earning capacity and survivor’s pensions) are also disregarded.
Pension card
This welded paper in the check card format does not bring any money into the narrow pensioner box office, but you can noticeably save which one. The pension certificate is issued by the German pension insurance. To every new pensioner.
ID holders receive discounts, for example when entering museums, zoos and amusement parks, cultural and sporting events. Pharmacies, fitness studios, libraries, adult education centers, sometimes trade and catering as well as the Deutsche Bahn grant discounts with the “Senior Spar Prize”. Local transport associations also offer cheap senior tickets, some federal states also a discounted Germany ticket. The following applies to nationwide: Anyone who receives basic security in old age or disability pension will receive the Germany ticket for 22.50 euros a month (instead of regular 58 euros).
For tenants: housing allowance plus
Living for rent has been significantly more expensive in recent years. For all seniors who have to spend 40 percent or more of their pension for rental costs, the consumer center recommends applying for the “housing allowance plus” reformed in 2023. A heating cost grant is also possible.
The application includes around a dozen pages and resembles control forms. But the through that can be kept: On average, justified pensioner households receive 370 euros per month.
For home residents: Load subsidy
Less well -off pensioners who live in their own four walls can apply for the so -called, a kind of housing benefit for real estate owners. Owners are entitled to apply, but also beneficiaries of hereditary building, long -term housing law and usufruct. Important: The living space must be used yourself.
In the application to the local housing benefit authority, the number and total income of all household members and the amount of the financial burden must be given, including proof. Correspondable loads are construction loans (interest and repayment), maintenance costs (flat rate of 36 euros per square meter of living space), property tax and management costs.
Health insurance grant
The costs for health insurance were significantly increased at the beginning of 2025: privately insured figures on average 18 percent more, legally insured persons almost one percent more additional contribution.
For compulsory insured persons, the German pension insurance charges its share, half of the contribution, and the proportion of seniors automatically with the pension paid. The additional contribution of the health insurers is not shared, but only paid by the retirement. So you can only save with a change of cash. Cheap and well -rated coffers include technicians, Hanseatic and Audi BKK.
Anyone who is insured in privately or voluntary health insurance must apply for a grant, to a certain extent the proportion of German pension insurance. Typically, this happens at the start of the pension. The amount of the grant, which is then paid in addition to the pension, depends on the so -called general contribution rate of statutory health insurance. It is currently 14.6 percent of income. In addition, the current additional contribution of the cash register (for privately insured persons the average value of the health insurers of 1.7 percent). Divided by two, the amount of the grant results, for private insured up to a maximum of half of the insurance premium.
Privately insured pensioners can save money by changing tariffs within their insurance company, for example by increasing annual deductible.
Takeover of nursing home costs
If you want to accommodate relatives in need of care in a care facility, you know: the own contribution. For the first year of accommodation, this has risen to just under 3000 euros according to the replacement cash register association. Per month. On the national average. For many seniors, this cannot be paid for by their current age income. It is not uncommon for their savings. Once this is used up, the welfare state steps in and takes over the own contribution. The following applies: a protective assets of 10,000 euros remain untouched. The care allowance does not count as a pension income.
Children of those in need of care may only be able to ask social welfare offices to checkout from a gross annual income of 100,000 euros since 2020. Consumer advocates advise legal advice in individual cases.
Source: Stern
