Never worked? What is the pension of a housewife

In life, women have often taken care of the upbringing of the children - and not paid into the pension fund.

This causes financial problems as a pensioner.

Update from February 14, 2023:

Will the pension be reduced if you move east as a pensioner?

Pensioners from the West who want to spend their old age in a place of residence in East Germany fear for their pension.

For some, that's justified.

Even old age and many years together are no guarantee for a happy marriage.

When it comes to divorce, pensioners have a few things to consider.

First report:

Hamburg/Berlin – Women who have spent most of their lives looking after the family and the household are often financially disadvantaged in old age.

You have the option of relying on your spouse for your pension and participating in his or her pension plan.

But divorce or a sudden death are risks as a pensioner - even if there is the possibility of a widow's pension for the latter.

There is no special pension for housewives.

The same conditions apply to them as to everyone else in Germany.

The legislature came up with a mother’s pension as a mitigation – our overview shows what it brings to housewives.

A lifelong housewife, now a pensioner – more pension points thanks to a mother’s pension

From the outset, the mother's pension was intended to prevent mothers from having a lower pension entitlement because they took care of their offspring in the first few years.

The name "mother's pension" for pensioners is somewhat misleading - because it is not a separate pension.

The name was used by the CDU/CSU in the 2013 federal election campaign.

Since January 1, 2019, the child-rearing period for children born before 1992 is even 30 months.

This was known as "Mother's Pension II".

Anyone who receives the mother's pension - fathers are also entitled as pensioners under certain conditions

In order for the time for housewives to be counted, they must submit the corresponding application V0800 to the German pension insurance.

The application must usually include a copy of the child's birth certificate and you must know your insurance number.

In addition to the mother, the following persons are also entitled - because they are recognized as pensioners:

• parents of same-sex couples

• adoptive parents

• Foster parents

• stepparents

• grandparents and other relatives

Fathers can also receive the mother's pension as pensioners if the mother agrees.

If a father mainly looked after the child in the first three years, he would be entitled to the mother's pension.

However, this declaration must be received by the pension insurance no later than two months after the end of the three years.

A later explanation is possible if both parents raised the child equally, but the father's part slightly predominates.

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A lifelong housewife and mother, now a pensioner - the mother's pension is intended to help.

© Imago (2) / UIG

Basic security for pensioners: How high is the pension of a housewife

Those who – like many housewives – are not entitled to a pension can apply for basic security.

People in need who do not receive a regular old-age pension and cannot cover their living expenses with their income are entitled to basic security.

How high the basic security is depends on income and assets - the assets of the spouse are also taken into account.

Single adults get at least 449 euros, couples get 809 euros together.

Of course, housewives can continue to work in old age - some jobs are particularly suitable for pensioners.

The pension can also be increased by caring for relatives.

How parents as pensioners benefit financially from the mother's pension

The federal government's regulation on mothers' pensions is intended to tie in with this.

It takes effect for pensioners shortly after the reunification: for children who were born before 1992, the person responsible for bringing up children gets up to 2.5 years of child-rearing credited to their pension account.

Average earnings are taken as earnings.

For children born after 1992, there are up to three years of education and, accordingly, three payment points.

Each year of child-rearing increases the monthly pension entitlement.

This table shows how parents benefit financially from the mother's pension:

List of rubrics: © Imago (2) / UIG