Overview

• Recent DRV data show Altersteilzeit participants rose by 50,500 to 284,000 between 2016 and 2023, signaling a shift toward earlier exits from the workforce.
• DIHK president Peter Adrian urged capping social insurance benefits and raising the retirement age from 2031 to reflect increasing life expectancy.
• Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil rejected further increases to the statutory retirement age beyond 67 and said higher taxes on top earners could close a projected €30 billion gap.
• Linke co-leader Ines Schwerdtner retracted earlier openness to a moderate age hike and reaffirmed that the retirement age must remain at 67.
• The coalition has locked in a 48 percent replacement rate through 2031 and will launch a voluntary Aktivrente offering up to €2,000 in tax-free post-retirement earnings while broader reforms await an expert commission’s recommendations.