Overview
- Arbeitsministerin Bärbel Bas said she views tying retirement eligibility to years of contributions as a “basically good” idea, a shift that could allow early starters to retire sooner and require later starters, such as many academics, to work longer.
- The debate follows Friday’s Bundestag passage of the latest pension package, with the government preparing to appoint a pension commission before Christmas to craft broader reforms for mid‑2026 consideration.
- For 2026, the federal government set new social‑insurance thresholds: the health and long‑term care contribution ceiling rises to €5,812.50 per month, the pension insurance ceiling to €8,450 per month, and the insurance‑obligation threshold to €77,400 per year.
- Rules for severely disabled people change from 2026, shifting the age for an unreduced pension for relevant cohorts by two years to 65, with early retirement from 62 incurring a 10.8% reduction.
- Voluntary statutory pension contributions adjust in 2026, with a minimum of €112.16 per month and a maximum of €1,571.70 per month, and back payments for 2025 permitted until March 31, 2026.