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Pension shock in Bavaria: every fifth pensioner falls into the poverty trap - the numbers are worrying

2021-01-26T08:56:17.038Z


The unions are sounding the alarm. Many Bavarians hardly have enough pensions to live on. The DGB is therefore calling for a change of course, which would also result in higher contributions. 


The unions are sounding the alarm.

Many Bavarians hardly have enough pensions to live on.

The DGB is therefore calling for a change of course, which would also result in higher contributions. 

Munich - The

German Trade Union Federation

(DGB) paints a gloomy picture.

"A look at the increasing poverty in old age in Bavaria shows that the statutory pension for many older people is still not enough to secure the standard of living," warned the deputy chairwoman Verena Di Pasquale at the presentation of the

DGB pension report

for the Free State.

According to this, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for people

over the age of 65 in Bavaria was 22 percent

in 2019

; according to the DGB, every fourth woman is affected.

According to the DGB, the fact that the at-risk-of-poverty rate for senior citizens in the Free State - unlike in other national statistics - is

well above the overall social average

(14.7 percent in Bavaria) is related to the statistical approach as well as the higher average salaries in Bavaria.

Dramatic development: 81 percent of women receive a statutory pension of less than 1,155 euros

The DGB portrays the situation among new pensioners dramatically

.

According to this,

81 percent of women

and almost 45 percent of men who retired in the Free State in 2019 remained below the

Bavarian poverty threshold of 1,155 euros

- at least if it is assumed that they

have no income

other than their

statutory old-age pension

.

At the same time, the number of people in Bavaria who claim basic security or a disability pension is increasing.

According to the DGB, in 2006 there were just under 83,000, in 2019 it was 126,000.

What can be done against poverty in old age?

In order to combat poverty in old age, Di Pasquale calls for a "change of course in pension policy".

The pension level (currently 48.2 percent) must rise again to over 50 percent in the long term.

In order to finance this, she proposes the conversion of the

pension insurance into an employment insurance

, into which initially also self-

employed

and, in the future, all employed persons should pay.

Di Pasquale does not deny

that this would also lead to

rising contribution rates

.

The increase would probably amount to "only a few percentage points".

In addition, young people are also willing to pay higher contributions if they themselves benefit from them later.

The Association of Bavarian Economy (vbw) rejected the DGB demands because the financing "means a one-sided burden for future generations".

Retire at 67?

This is how it looks in reality

The pension at 67 should be withdrawn, demanded Di Pasquale.

“In addition, it is good work that protects against old-age poverty, that is, work that is subject to social insurance and is subject to collective bargaining agreements.

Instead of low wages and mini jobs, we finally need more security and prospects in the world of work, ”she said.

This is how it looks with new pensioners in Bavaria

In 2019, according to the DGB, men in Bavaria

retired

on average at the age of

64

and received

EUR 1,167 per month

as

new pensioners

.

At the age of 65, only 7 percent were fully employed.

Long-term insured persons received an average of

€ 1,295

as new pensioners

, and after

45

years of insurance

even €

1,534

.

According to DGB Bayern, women receive an average of a third less pension than men.

In the Free State, 5.2 million employees currently pay contributions to the pension fund.

Around 2.5 million people receive old-age pensions.

The

LichtBlick Seniorenhilfe association

recognizes the figures from the DGB report as an “oath of disclosure on pension policy” and called for reforms.

Vbw managing director Bertram Brossardt, however, said that looking only at the statutory pension falls short.

The monthly net household income of all married couples and single persons aged 65 and over averaged EUR 2,207 in 2019.

Who receives a disability pension?

People who can

not work

or

can only work to a limited

extent

receive

a

disability pension

.

The average values ​​here in 2019 were 883 euros / month for men and 780 euros for women.

Compared to 2015 there was an increase (over 100 euros), but according to the DGB, many disabled people - in 2019 that was 11.3 percent of new pensioners - are still forced to apply for additional basic security.

At the end of 2019, 126,096 people in Bavaria received basic security in old age (71,995) and with reduced earning capacity (54,101); in 2006 it was 82,833.

Verena Di Pasquale, Deputy Chairwoman of the DGB Bayern, assumes that the actual numbers are around a third higher.

But many would be ashamed to apply for basic security in old age.

What are the reasons for a reduced earning capacity?

Mental illnesses are the most common reason for reduced earning capacity for men (33.9 percent) and women (44.7 percent). For Di Pasquale, the “condensation, flexibility and delimitation of the working world” are (partly) responsible for this.

On average, men had to retire from working life at the age of 53.2, women at the age of 52.

Further main diagnoses for disability pension are: skeleton / muscles (men 13.1%, women 14.1%), cardiovascular system (men 12.4%, women 6.1%).

Pension shock for millions of Germans - hardly any prospect of pension increases in 2021

There has not been anything like this since 2010: a zero rate for pensions?

Now Minister Hubertus Heil has also commented on the prospects for this year.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-01-26

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