Overview

• An economics ministry advisory group recommended phasing the statutory retirement age up to 73 by 2060 and linking future changes to life expectancy, alongside scrapping early retirement at 63 and restoring the sustainability factor.
• CDU/CSU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn said he expects the age to rise from 67 toward about 70 in the coming years, with gradual increases through the 2030s, while calling the immediate debate premature.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned households will devote more income to pensions, health and care, and he backed a mandatory, capital‑funded private contribution as part of a broader reform mix.
• SPD figures and major social associations VdK and SoVD rejected compulsory private payments and cautioned against higher age limits, arguing the proposals are unrealistic or unfair for many workers.
• A separate, scheduled change will lift the Minijob earnings ceiling to €603 per month in 2026 and €633 in 2027 due to minimum‑wage increases, affecting working retirees and employers.