Social security: Klingbeil: Real reforms against rising social contributions

According to SPD boss Lars Klingbeil, the problem of increasing social contributions is not so easy to get under control. The problems in the system could not simply be mated with money, he told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. It is necessary to work quickly on real reforms.

Klingbeil said with a view to the reign of the planned black and red coalition: “Either we are now able to modernize social security systems in four years, or they are shot by the populists. They then come with the chainsaw or with the ax.”

Experts expect rising social contributions

Social contributions are the contributions to social security. In the current year, this is 14.6 percent for health insurance plus additional contributions of an average of 2.9 percent. The care contribution is 3.6 percent for insured persons with a child. It is 2.6 percent for unemployment insurance and 18.6 percent for pension insurance.

Experts expect the social contributions to increase noticeably in the coming year. An important reason is the aging society in Germany.

Commissions should make suggestions

When asked whether civil servants should not pay into the system, Klingbeil said: “We can imagine expanding the basis of those who pay into the statutory pension.” He is also open to other suggestions such as fund solutions in addition to the statutory pension.

To say that people should work longer for the pension and you have to shorten services in the health system, but it is not his answer as a social democrat. “We have to make the whole system more fair and solidarity. That is why commissions should take care of it,” said the SPD boss.