There is no legally established minimum pension – neither at the federal nor at the state level. The amount of the pension depends on the “individual insurance biography” and the “amount of the statutory pension insurance contributions.’ The reality of pensioners in Bavaria is not just an indictment for women.
Many women from the baby boomer generation have often worked part-time or not at all for years and, in addition to taking care of the household, have taken care of raising children and the family. Basic security is intended for people whose income or assets are not sufficient to cover their living expenses. The scope of services consists of the relevant standard rate and the expenses for accommodation and heating, says the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs. In principle, only those who have pension insurance and fulfill the minimum insurance period of five years can be entitled to a pension. In other words, if you don't pay in, you don't get anything. Only two groups of people are entitled to basic security: people who are able to work and looking for work and are at least 15 years old. The second group of people concerns those who have already reached old age or are permanently unable to work. The length and amount of the pension contributions paid are particularly relevant for the statutory pension but also for individual circumstances, such as private pension provision or existing assets. The amount basically depends on the following aspects: Whether there was an unemployment report without receipt of benefits or whether and which benefits were received. How the entire insurance biography is structured and how unemployment affects the overall pension calculation. The type of periods under pension law that could be taken into account for periods of unemployment. How much an individual actually has left when they retire can be subject to strong fluctuations, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is responsible for the state's social security system. The average age of retirement in Bavaria is 66 years, with a maximum age of 70 years.