Pension: FDP finds energy flat rate for retirees "not appropriate" - pensioner files a lawsuit

Created: 2022-06-08 05:12

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

There is an energy flat rate of 300 euros from the relief package for all employed persons in Germany - but retirees and retirees get nothing.

(Archive image) © FrankHoermann/Sven Simon/Imago

More and more SPD politicians are also demanding the energy flat rate for pensioners.

However, the FDP considers this to be “not appropriate”.

The social association is currently working on a model lawsuit.

Berlin – The relief package has developed into a real bone of contention: there is an energy flat rate of 300 euros from the relief package for all workers in Germany – but pensioners and retirees get nothing.

"Many pensioners are rightly angry," said Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) of the

.

Energy flat rate for pensioners too?

The FDP is against it

There is no logical explanation for this, because even at retirement age you have to heat, fill up and go shopping.

He is happy to pay Lower Saxony's share of an energy flat rate for pensioners and expects the federal government to go along with it: "This relief must come after the summer break at the latest."

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) is also calling for the planned energy flat rate to be given to retirees.

The increased electricity and gas prices would affect all households, said Schwesig.

Seniors are also affected by petrol prices, for example when they go to the doctor or go shopping.

"Many pensioners have to look at every euro," said Schwesig.

The coalition partner FDP sees it differently.

She would like to stick to the restriction of the energy flat rate to those in employment, as the FDP parliamentary group leader Christoph Meyer told Die

: “The pension increase of over 5.3 percent in the west and over 6.1 percent in the east from July 1st will apply permanently and monthly.

This makes it clear that the coalition does not leave pensioners hanging, especially since the fuel discount, nine-euro ticket and the numerous other reliefs that the government has launched apply to everyone.

Therefore, an extension of the energy flat rate is not appropriate.”

Pension: Social association prepares model lawsuit for energy lump sum

It is not yet clear how the dispute over the energy money for pensioners will end: after the summer break, the traffic light coalition would like to decide on further relief.

SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich told the news portal

about the proposal to also pay the energy flat rate to pensioners: "I can imagine that.

But we will discuss and decide together.”

also read

Pensions are increasing: You will get so much more from July 2022

Hartz IV: With the change to citizen income, there should be significantly more money

Meanwhile, the social association VdK is preparing a lawsuit because of the energy flat rate.

VdK President Verena Bentele told

: "The VdK considers it unacceptable that so many people who urgently need it do not receive a flat-rate energy price: poor pensioners, but also caring relatives, people who are sick or get parental allowance, get nothing.

This violates the principle of equality.

Therefore, the social association VdK will sue through all instances."

Our free business newsletter provides you with all relevant business news on a regular basis.

Click here for registration.

A 74-year-old pensioner from Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg has already filed a lawsuit against the federal government.

In the

, the woman explained on the subject of energy money: "That's a huge mess." Less well-heeled pensioners would not get the flat rate, but federal ministers would.

According to the newspaper, the social court in Karlsruhe confirmed receipt of the lawsuit – but it is not yet certain whether it will be heard.