Overview

• Official microdata obtained via a Die Linke parliamentary request show municipal pension averages differ by up to €644 per month, underscoring stark regional and gender disparities.
• Men’s averages are highest in major industrial hubs such as Böblingen (€1,743), Wolfsburg (€1,737) and Bottrop (€1,736), reflecting long tenures and higher wages in large employers.
• Women’s highest averages are reported in eastern cities including East Berlin (€1,374), Jena (€1,373), Potsdam (€1,370) and Cottbus (€1,366), while districts like Bitburg‑Prüm (€730) sit at the bottom.
• Reliance on social assistance also varies widely, from 0.8% of men and 0.4% of women in Saalfeld‑Rudolstadt to about 12% for both genders in Offenbach am Main.
• For 2025 filings, the basic allowance is €12,096 and 83.5% of a first‑time pension is taxable, while the age relief for taxable side income is 13.2% up to €627 and is scheduled to phase down to zero by 2058; the Netherlands is cited as a stronger model with a €1,200 state base and broad occupational coverage.