Get more pension: what applications you should not miss

Not every retiree and retailer can look forward to a lavish pension in old age. According to the Federal Statistical Office, almost every fifth person in Germany is threatened with poverty. This applies even more to women than to men. After all, there are different options for pensioners with little money to improve the pension with state grants. And even those who raised children in the course of life can get certain surcharges. An overview of the most important help and what you have to do for it:

Parents are credited to each child from the statutory pension insurance. For children born in 1992 or later born, up to three years are credited per child. For every child born before 1992, the credit has been up to two years and six months since the introduction of the so -called “mother’s pension”. According to German pension insurance, one year of child rearing is almost a fee, which currently corresponds to almost 40 euros in additional pension per month.

Important: The educational times are only saved on request. This can be made as part of a account declaration and will then be taken into account later in the pension payment. Each month of education can only be assigned to one parent and not claimed twice. Whether only one, none or both of them worked or have worked during this time does not matter. The parents can determine by submitting a matching declaration to whom which educational time should be assigned. If there is no unanimous explanation, the parent benefits, which has mainly taken over the upbringing.

In addition to the child -rearing periods, there are also the children’s consideration times, which must also be requested. These are up to ten years from birth. If other children are born during this period, the time of consideration is extended to the tenth birthday of the youngest child. (In contrast to the upbringing times, two children do not mean twice full consideration, unless there are at least ten years between births). The duration of consideration applies to those who also receive the upbringing time.

Considering times count for the minimum insurance period and can therefore shorten the waiting time from which one has a pension entitlement. You can also improve the pension by better evaluating contributions. Even if more than one child was brought up or worked on the side, the consideration times can increase the pension.

If the pension is not sufficient in old age (or permanently full of disability) to make a living, affected basic security can apply for. Basic security in old age and in the event of a reduction in earning capacity is therefore a social benefit for the needy who does not exceed certain income and assets.

According to German pension insurance, the rule of thumb is the rule of thumb: pensioners with an income of less than 1062 euros a month can apply for basic security. Income includes all pensions and pensions as well as any earned income, rental income, sick pay and interest. Income and assets of the (married) partner are also taken into account. The income of children (or parents) is only used when this is higher than 100,000 euros a year.

There is also only a claim if there is no significant assets. Cash and savings must first be used up, a gentle assets of 10,000 euros apply to single people and 20,000 euros for couples. Securities, cars and real estate also have to be turned into money. Exceptions apply to self-used residential property, appropriate household items and family or heirlooms of predominantly ideal value.

The basic security is intended to cover the cost of the most necessary. The standard requirement for a single adult is 563 euros, for couples 506 euros each. In addition, costs for rent and additional costs as well as health and nursing insurance contributions are covered- everything is always minus the existing income.

The basic security must be requested from the social welfare office. It is only paid for one year, then a new application is necessary. It is also only paid if you live in Germany. Those who are continuously abroad for more than four weeks are no longer entitled.

People with low incomes can receive a state subsidy for housing costs in Germany. Pensioners can also get housing benefit if they do not already receive basic security (the costs for living are already included). The housing benefit is either a subsidy for rent or for the costs of home ownership (load subsidy).

Whether there is a claim to housing benefit depends on the amount of income (or pension) and the housing costs on site. Various allowances and deductions must also be taken into account. Residential anglers on the Internet can be helpful for an individual assessment. The application must then be submitted to the housing benefit office, which specifically calculates which amount is entitled to someone.

For pensioners who are compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance company, the pension insurance pays half of the contributions – just as employers do for their employees. Anyone who is privately insured or voluntarily insured with a statutory health insurance company can also receive a grant on the contributions. This grant must be actively requested from the pension insurance – ideally directly by applying for the pension.

The basic pension (also called “Respectrent”) is a surcharge introduced in 2021 for people who have paid into the pension fund for many years, but also received a small pension because of their low earnings. A claim can arise from 33 eligible insurance years. The amount of the basic pension is calculated individually, on average the surcharge is 86 euros a month according to the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The basic pension does not have to be requested – the pension insurance automatically checks whether there is a claim.

In addition to grants to pension, pensioners can also receive numerous benefits. For example, many cultural events such as theater and cinema, but also tickets for bus and train are reduced. The pension status can be proven at any time with the pension card, which is sent to new players together with the welcome letter by post. Some municipalities also offer a senior passport that includes discounts on cultural and leisure activities. The senior passport is sometimes even before the retirement age.