Berlin (dpa) - The coalition has argued as little about a few projects as about the basic pension. Everyone wanted this surcharge on basic security for mini-pensions for long-term insured persons, but the ideas differed.
How many should get it and how is it checked who is in need at all? The final consultation in the Bundestag was now pending before the summer break. The Federal Council could follow on July 3. Key points of the complicated construction:
Who should get a basic pension?
In the start year 2021, around 1.3 million people, 70 percent of them women. Namely people with mini-pensions who have had pension contributions from employment, child-rearing or care work for at least 33 years. Their lifetime achievement should be recognized, they should be spared the trip to the social welfare office. The surcharge should initially be staggered, with 35 years of contributions it should reach the full amount. In addition, basic pensions should only be given to those with income below certain limits. The Bundestag press service also writes that those who do not have a basic wage or who only received additional income, for example through mini-jobs, should not receive a basic pension.
How is it determined who should be awarded the contract?
First of all, a comprehensive means test was agreed in the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD. But the SPD rejected this. Now there should be an income check. The data comparison for the income check should work automatically between the pension insurance and the tax authorities. You don't have to apply for the basic pension either. Pension insurance gets a lot to do - at least in the first few years - to check whether people who are already drawing a pension also receive the premium. A delay in payment is therefore expected - possibly until the end of 2022. This should then come retrospectively.
What are the planned income limits?
Only those whose monthly income as a pensioner is a maximum of € 1250 (single person) and € 1950 (spouse or partner) receive the full premium. Income above this limit should count towards 60 percent of the basic pension. In the case of a single person's income of € 1,300, € 50 would count towards 60 percent - the basic pension would be € 30 lower. Income over 1600 or 2300 euros should be counted 100 percent against the basic pension surcharge: if a couple has, for example, 2400 euros income, the basic pension is reduced by 100 euros.
What should be considered in the income test?
The tax-free portion of pensions and taxable income, for example through rental income, a pension or amounts of company or private provision. Investment income above the saver's allowance should also be taken into account. Pensioners must report relevant income to the pension insurance company. Advertising costs and expenses for health and nursing care insurance are deducted. As a rule, information on taxable income is only available for the previous year, new pensioners may not receive the basic pension for the first year - the income test should, however, be repeated once a year.
How exactly does the calculation work?
In principle, the earnings points with which the total pension is calculated are upgraded. An average earner gets one such point every year. For each point there has been a pension of EUR 34.19 in the west and EUR 33.23 per month in the East since July 1. For periods with only low pension entitlements that trigger the basic pension, the earnings points are increased: namely for 35 years to twice the average value of the acquired points - but at most to 0.8 points.
What could an example look like?
Union parliamentary group leader Hermann Gröhe calculated that on average the basic pension would improve people with low pensions by 80 euros. Some could even expect up to 400 euros a month or almost 5000 euros a year more. "Even at 80 euros, that's almost 1000 euros a year," said Gröhe. If florists or hairdressers after 40 years full-time with 40 percent of the average earnings would have a pension of 500 euros a month, this pension would now rise to 900 euros.
What does it cost the state?
The basic pension costs an estimated 1.3 billion to 1.6 billion euros. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) actually wanted to raise this money through a financial transaction tax. But it is not in sight. Now it comes from the federal budget - to trouble in the Union.
What else happens in regions with high living costs?
So that the surcharge for the basic pension in expensive regions or metropolitan areas is not consumed, for example, by high housing costs, there should be allowances for housing allowance, basic security for jobseekers or for people with reduced earning capacity.
What else happens to company pensions?
As an incentive to set up an additional, company-financed company pension scheme for low-wage earners with a gross monthly wage of up to € 2200, the subsidy amount is currently being increased from a maximum of € 144 to a maximum of € 288.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200702-99-651313 / 2
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