With the pension card, pensioners benefit from discounts and perks in everyday life.
How to get the proof and what it brings financially.
Hamburg/Berlin – After a life full of work, long days and little free time, many pensioners want to finally enjoy their retirement to the fullest and, above all, to use it - but they often don't have the money for it.
For these cases there is the pension card, which gives seniors access to many benefits and discounts in everyday life.
24hamburg.de reports for consumers how to get the pension certificate and where senior citizens can count on benefits.
Pensioner: | A person who is no longer or mostly no longer employed and earns his living from a pension |
Pension: | Statutory or private insurance benefit |
Demarcation of private individuals: | Living off their savings |
Delimitation pensioner: | Receive a pension instead of a pension, i.e. a mostly state pension benefit that is not based on previously paid contributions, but on service-related pension entitlements |
Saving money as a pensioner: What is the pension card - and where can I get one?
The pension certificate is proof in credit card format that proves the status as a pensioner.
For environmental reasons, this is not made of plastic - instead it is a foil-reinforced paper ID card that "fits in any wallet to save space," according to the
German pension insurance
.
The name, date of birth and pension insurance number of the senior concerned are entered on the card.
Does every pensioner have a pension card?
How to get proof
Since July 2020, you can no longer get the useful proof as a pensioner to cut out yourself in the pension notification, but with the welcome letter from the pension service of Deutsche Post AG.
This also pays out the pension.
The letter also states the number of the respective pension and the responsible pension insurance institution.
Incidentally, for health reasons you can also apply for a pension at an early stage – i.e. before the age of 65.
Discounts and perks: what does a pension card bring me?
But what are the advantages of the pension card?
Those who can prove their status as a pensioner with the notorious card will be rewarded with discounts and benefits at many public places.
Cultural offers, in particular, take advantage of pensioners' preference for the theatre, cinema events or museums and offer cheaper events for seniors.
Discounts of up to 50 percent are possible.
However, since the offers differ greatly from city to city and also between the event owners, it is worth making a phone call or doing a quick search on the Internet before you head to the cinema or the theatre.
It can also be worth asking about a discount for pensioners at the cash desk on site - and then, of course, presenting your pension card.
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Seniors with a pension card can benefit from many perks and discounts.
(24hamburg.de assembly)
© photothek/Lobeca/Imago
Swimming pools, zoos and sports clubs: what are the advantages of the pension card?
But even those who still like to be active in old age can benefit from their ID card.
Because discounts in swimming pools, sports clubs, zoos and even for ski lifts are not uncommon.
This even applies to season tickets that pensioners can get for less money from some football clubs.
But some retirees also feel the need to learn something new with all their free time.
In this case, they can make use of so-called senior adult education centers that have tailored their offers to the needs of pensioners.
Courses are made available to people with a pension card for less money and at more convenient times.
In Munich, for example, seniors only pay half price for courses at the adult education center.
Travel cheaper with the pension card: Providers advertise package tours
Seniors who want to broaden their horizons even more also have the opportunity to save money when traveling with their pension card.
According to the
International Center for Well-Being (ICWB)
, tour operators see retirees as a worthwhile target group, especially in the low season.
As part of this, they lure seniors with package tours outside of the main travel season, which are a third to half cheaper.
Hotels in Germany and abroad are also pursuing a similar strategy.
The pension card also makes activities on vacation more accessible to retirees.
It is worth looking for ways to save even before you travel.
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Benefits for pensioners over a certain age: BahnCard for seniors and discounts on public transport
Aside from all these offers, perks, and rebates for retired seniors, there are also some benefits for people over a certain age.
People over the age of 65 are entitled to a Senior BahnCard, and in some federal states they can also use local public transport at lower prices from this age, for example in Hamburg (HVV).
Pensioners can also take advantage of their advanced age in shops, restaurants and even when paying GEZ fees.
Have you lost your pension card?
There is a simple solution for this
Although there is no legal entitlement to benefits with the pension card, proof of this can save seniors a lot of money in everyday life - you just have to be brave and ask.
If you have lost your pension card or it is damaged, you can request a replacement pension card via the online service of Deutsche Post AG's pension service, the
Deutsche Rentenversicherung
knows .
List of rubrics: © photothek/Lobeca/Imago
