Pension increase 2022: There is also more for widows and widowers

Created: 07/25/2022, 15:53

By: Jasmine Farah

Since July 1st, pensioners can look forward to more monthly pensions as a relief.

But widowers and widows also benefit.

Inflation due to the Corona and Ukraine crises is hitting many in this country hard.

This is especially true for pensioners.

They were not initially considered in the traffic light coalition's relief package.

But a few months ago, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (49, SPD) announced that he wanted to set the course for an increase in pensions.

This applies to July 1, 2022, with the result that the pensions have been increased significantly in some cases.

Pension increase: widows and widowers

In addition, a new pension tax is to come into force.

Widowers and widows who receive a survivor's pension also benefit from the pension plus.

This affects around 5.3 million people across Germany.

In principle, a remaining spouse or partner is entitled to a widow's or widower's pension if the spouse or partner dies.

If the spouse or life partner dies, the survivor's pension should provide financial support.

(Iconic image) © Dirk Sattler/Imago

This is based on the fact that the person concerned is financially supported by the state, especially when the deceased earned more.

However, some conditions must be met in order to receive a survivor's pension:

• The marriage or civil partnership has existed for at least one year.

• The survivor has not entered into a new partnership.

• The deceased partner must have completed a minimum insurance period of five years.

But how much do I get as a survivor?

It generally depends on the needs of the deceased.

It continues to be paid in full for the first three months after the partner's death.

After that, further income will be taken into account.

But: The survivor's pension should also increase by 5.35 percent in western Germany and by 6.12 percent in the east.

Added to this are the allowances.

In principle, 40 percent of the net income that exceeds the allowances is offset against the survivor's pension.

In July, however, the income allowance increases from 902.62 to 950.93 euros in the west and from 883.61 to 937.73 euros in the east.

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Pension increase: What is the small or large widow's pension?

There is also the "small" and the "large" widow's pension.

The former are given to surviving dependents who are not older than 47, who are able to work and have no children.

Since it is assumed that they will soon be able to earn their living (again) themselves, they only receive the small widow's pension for 24 months.

The situation is different with the large survivor's pension.

Anyone over the age of 47 who is unable to work or has to raise a child who is still a minor is entitled to this.

It is around 55 percent of the pension entitlements that a spouse or life partner was receiving or would have received at the time of death.

Finally, most of the surviving spouses or life partners are already retired and drawing their old-age pension.

Thanks to the widow's pension, they are double pensioners.