This is the amount of your pension if you have never worked.
People who have never worked in Germany usually receive no statutory pension at all. Without paying contributions for at least five years, there is no entitlement to an old-age pension or disability pension, regardless of age or need.
The statutory pension system is based on compulsory contributions from employees and employers. Self-employed workers, freelancers, and civil servants are not required to pay into it. Civil servants receive pensions funded by taxes, while others must save privately. Voluntary contributions are possible but often expensive and financially unattractive without an employer’s share.
Only those who have paid into the pension system for at least five years qualify for payments. This rule also applies to survivor benefits such as widow’s and orphan’s pensions. People who fall short of this requirement can make voluntary payments after consulting the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance) or the VDK (Social Association of Germany).
Some periods can be credited without direct payments. Years spent in education after the age of 17 can count toward pension time, up to eight years. Raising children also earns pension points, based on the average insured income. For children born before 1992, up to two and a half years can be credited; for younger children, three years. Only one caregiver per month can claim this credit, which is automatically assigned to the mother unless another guardian applies.
Even small jobs can help. Since 2023, mini-jobs paying €520 per month are subject to pension insurance. Employers pay 15 percent of wages, and employees pay only 3.6 percent. This allows part-time workers to build pension rights at a low personal cost, as long as the work is officially declared.
Those who never qualify for a pension must rely on basic income support in old age. According to the German Pension Insurance, seniors who cannot cover their living costs may apply for this benefit, which includes housing, heating, and health insurance contributions. Anyone with a monthly income below €924 is advised to apply. Since January 1, single adults receive €563 per month, while couples receive €506 each. The article was written by فيلين ليتسمان.