Pensions in Germany

Pensions in Germany are based on a “three pillar system”.[1]

Mandatory State Pension Provision

The scheme is based on the Pay as you go (or redistributive) model. Funds paid in by contributors (employees and employers) are not saved (or invested) but are used to pay current pension obligations.

Civil servants in Germany do not pay any contributions themselves but their salaries are correspondingly lower than those in the private sector.

Recent changes to the system mean that from 2012 to 2023 the retirement age will be increased by one month per year reaching 66 in 2023.[2] From 2023 the retirement age will be increased yearly by 2 months to reach 67 in 2029. Each missing year results in a 3.6% reduction in the pension entitlement.

The state scheme is financed by a payroll tax known as "social security contributions". The rate in 2012 is 19.6% of pay up to the social security contribution ceiling of € 67,200 (Western Bundesländer) and € 57,600 (Eastern Bundesländer). The amount is paid half and half by employer and employee contributions.

The amount paid to retirees is based on average salaries. The German pension insurance agency publishes the value of each year`s contribution (remuneration point). This is then multiplied the number of years contributed and the % of the average salary earned during the person's lifetime. The average pension in 2012 €1263.15 per month. The maximum pension for someone having earned twice the average salary (€64,200) would be €2526.30.[3]

Voluntary Occupational Pension Provision

The Voluntary Occupational Pension schemes (Betriebliche Altersvorsorge) were created under the Company Pensions Law (Betriebsrentengesetz) in 1974[4] and are a benefit granted by a company to its employees. Voluntary schemes can fall into different categories:[5]

The schemes can be structured in various ways:

In 2009 contributions up to €2500 (Betriebsbemessungsgrenze) were tax free. A further €1800 in contributions to Direct Insurance schemes are tax free. About 50% of workers in Germany are covered by these schemes.[6]

According to the Deutsches Institut für Zeitwertkonten und Pension Lösungen, a consultancy, "in almost all firms, 30 to 50% of the capital required to meet the commitments made in days when the interest rates were higher is missing". The Germans have invested 500 billions euros in Voluntary Occupational Pension and 170 to 225 billions euros are needed to fill in the coverage gap.[7]

Private Provision

Private pension schemes in Germany are personal funded pensions. The funds are protected by law and cannot be seized by creditors or the state. They are also not inheritable. Payments into the funds benefit from a tax credit of €154 per year per adult and up to an additional €300 if the fund beneficiary has children. The most popular form of private pension provision is the so-called Riester-Pension. The annual cost to the state of the tax credits is €7bn.

See also

References

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