Contribution assessment limit: Greens: Lindner should give up blockade on social security

The Green parliamentary group is pushing for a quick decision on the question of the level of income up to which contributions for health and social insurance will be due in the future. She sees Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) as having a particular responsibility here. Contributions to health insurance and social security must be clear and predictable for employees, said the parliamentary group leader, Britta Haßelmann, in Berlin.

It is therefore now necessary “for Finance Minister Christian Lindner to finally give up blocking the regulation on the contribution assessment limit,” she added. There’s been a fight about this for weeks now. Clarity must be established quickly “so that lower and middle income earners don’t end up having to expect higher contributions.”

This is what Heil’s proposal provides for

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) presented a draft regulation in September. Accordingly, contributions to statutory pension insurance will in future be due up to a monthly income of 8,050 euros. The value is currently significantly lower and differs between the old and new federal states: in the west it is 7,550 euros and in the east 7,450 euros per month. Anyone who earns more only pays pension contributions up to this limit – no contributions are due on income above this limit. According to Heil’s proposal, the contribution assessment limit for statutory health and nursing care insurance should rise to 5,512.50 euros. Currently, high earners have to pay contributions on their income of up to 5,175 euros per month.

The deputy Green party leader, Andreas Audretsch, also criticized Lindner. He said: “Yesterday evening he approved the regulation on the contribution assessment limit, today he is withdrawing his approval – that is not reliable governance.”