Overview

• A statutory Freibetrag can exclude up to €281.50 of monthly pension from means tests in 2025, calculated as €100 plus 30% of the remainder and capped at half of Regelbedarfsstufe 1 for Grundsicherung and Wohngeld.
• Eligibility begins at 33 years of Grundrentenzeiten covering employment, child‑rearing and care periods, and it does not require approval of a Grundrentenzuschlag.
• The allowance is not automatic, so claimants should verify their pension record, request a Kontenklärung to add missing periods, and formally ask for application under §82a SGB XII or §17a WoGG.
• For Minijobs in 2025 the earnings limit is €556 with a 3.6% employee pension share (€20.02 at the limit) that the Jobcenter deducts as an expense, preserving monthly cash while creating Entgeltpunkte.
• Opting out of pension insurance in a Minijob is binding for that job and sacrifices points and protection relevant to an Erwerbsminderungsrente that generally requires 36 months of compulsory contributions in the last five years.