Overview
- Starting January 2026, pensioners past the regular retirement age can earn up to €2,000 per month tax‑free under the Aktivrente, which covers employees but excludes the self‑employed.
- The Institute for Employment Research proposes a Rentenaufschubprämie that would pay a lump sum equal to saved pension payments and DRV‑covered health contributions after at least 12 months of social‑insurance employment beyond the statutory age.
- IAB researchers judge the Aktivrente unlikely to be a gamechanger and view a deferral bonus as more effective, noting that better information about incentives raises willingness to work longer.
- In IAB survey results, 13% of those planning early retirement reconsidered, 33% of on‑time retirees opted to extend work, and 34% of undecided participants leaned toward postponement when incentives were explained.
- Official microcensus data show 13% of 65–74‑year‑olds already work, with 16% of men versus 10% of women employed, many in short‑hour jobs, and 29% self‑employed who would not benefit from the Aktivrente.