In the current situation, an increase in pension sounds right at first.
Nevertheless, the one-off payment cannot be claimed by every pensioner.
Bochum – Some live in paradise with their pension, like the pensioner couple who emigrated when they retired or the 74-year-old pensioner who leads a life of luxury with a pension of 1000 euros.
On the other hand, pensioners who receive too little a pension can apply for basic security as a relief.
But even for some retirees who receive a low pension but just barely miss the basic security, there is the possibility of receiving a subsidy of up to 5000 euros from the state.
However, this is only the case under certain conditions and circumstances.
Because while the current table shows how high the "noticeable increase" for the pension will be in 2023, many can hardly live from their old-age provision due to the additional costs in everyday life - despite the announced pension increase.
"Poverty in old age is chasing from record to record", since pensioners suffer particularly from the price explosion in everyday life.
In addition, pensioners with a pension of 1200 euros should pay attention to various taxes and keep an eye on other deductions such as social security contributions.
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Not every pensioner lives with basic security or is in the lap of luxury because of their pension.
© IMAGO/Michael Gstettenbauer
Date of payment for relief in the case of a low pension: Pensioners receive up to 5,000 euros from the hardship fund
The federal government's specially set up hardship fund makes it possible to provide relief in the event of a low pension.
Up to 5000 euros are available for pensioners if certain requirements are met.
A decision on the payment of the grant for applications can be expected from April 2023 at the earliest.
The official deadline for submitting the necessary form to apply for state relief is September 30th for pensioners who probably live too generously given the housing shortage in Germany.
One-time payment from the state for a low pension: how much money pensioners get from the hardship fund
The federal government grants a one-time payment of 2,500 euros.
But it can also be 5000 euros if the federal states participate and take over the other half.
The federal states have until March 31, 2023 to decide whether they want to join the program or not, to help struggling livelihoods, which in Germany's pension comparison at the time of the survey can only dream of being average.
Low pension: Which pensioners get the money from the hardship fund as a one-off relief from the state
The following pensioners can apply for money from the hardship fund for low pensions:
Employees at Deutsche Post, Deutsche Reichsbahn or in the health and social services
People who care for family members and have given up their jobs to do so
late repatriates
Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union and their relatives
Employees in a mining activity in lignite processing/carbochemicals, business stay abroad with spouse for whom the previous job was given up
Divorced persons under GDR law who have been married for at least ten years and have at least one child
Ballet dancers who were promised a so-called "ballet pension" by the GDR
Apply for relief for a low pension: How pensioners get the money from the hardship fund
While pensioners have received mail from the German pension insurance these days, seniors who meet the requirements for the one-off payment of up to 5000 euros to supplement their pension must become active themselves and apply for the state subsidy.
In contrast to other aid programs, the money is not automatically paid out to the relevant retirees by bank transfer.
In order to receive relief from the hardship fund, a written application must be submitted.
The deadline for this ends on September 30, 2023.
Pensioners who meet the relevant requirements can download the form from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, fill it out and email it to
gst@stiftung-haertefallfonds.de
.
If you prefer to send the form by post, write the following address on the envelope: Office of the Hardship Fund Foundation, 44781 Bochum.
Pensioners should be patient when deciding and paying out the relief for the low pension
Decisions on applications and possible payments as well as the amount of the one-off payment for admitted pensioners will only be possible from April 2023.
Finally, as already mentioned, the federal states can still discuss whether to join the hardship fund until the end of March 2023.
List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Michael Gstettenbauer
