After a zero round for 2020, pensioners in Germany can look forward to an increase again next year.
The head of the German Pension Insurance now made that clear.
Berlin - The President of the German Pension Insurance, Gundula Roßbach, has given hope for a pension increase in the coming year after the most recent zero round for 2020.
“The forecasts so far assume that wages will rise again compared to the previous year, mainly because there will be less short-time work in 2021 than last year.
"In this respect, I expect a positive development for the pensioners again in the coming year," said Roßbach of the Düsseldorf Rheinische Post.
"The prerequisite is, of course, that the third wave of the pandemic does not last until December."
Due to the corona pandemic, the usual increase in old-age pensions in western Germany will not be available this year.
The pensioners in the east receive a small plus of 0.72 percent.
In 2020, despite the massive economic slump due to the corona pandemic, there was a sharp increase in pensions by 4.2 percent in the east and 3.45 percent in the west.
Pension: Several factors determine future pension levels
Several factors are taken into account when calculating future pensions.
In addition to a sustainability factor that shows the relationship between contribution figures and pension recipients, the so-called pension adjustment formula primarily takes into account the gross wage development.
Overall, Roßbach sees the pension insurance in a financially stable financial condition.
"We have come through the pandemic very well so far," she said.
“The good years before the crisis gave us a relatively high sustainability reserve of currently around 35 billion euros”.
In addition, despite the crisis, premium income in 2020 was higher than in 2019, said Roßbach.
"We will have to reduce the reserve this year as well, but not so much that we could speak of an imbalance."
She was also optimistic with regard to pension contributions.
"As things stand today, we can hold both holding lines until 2025: According to the forecasts, the contribution rate will not rise above 20 percent and the pension level will not fall below 48 percent." climb.
"In the October estimate we had expected an increase to 19.3 percent," said Roßbach.
Flexi-Rente could be extended
Roßbach suggested checking whether the additional income rules, which were greatly improved in the Corona crisis, can be retained for the Flexi pension.
“During the pandemic, the additional earnings limit for early retirement pensions was raised from 6300 euros per year.
Until the end of 2021, you can now earn 46,000 euros on top of this pension, "she said.
"I expect that will make the Flexi pension more attractive." It should be evaluated and examined, "whether it makes sense to stick to the more generous additional income rules even after the pandemic," she said.
A new way of thinking with regard to people of advanced working age is also necessary.
"The skills of older people can still be used in a variety of ways, before and after the start of retirement," said Roßbach, who is also a member of the Federal Government's Pension Commission.
"We should become more flexible and get away from this rigid limit in our heads that has set the retirement age so far," she said.
(dpa / utz)