Pension: More and more older people are dependent on basic security

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Germany goverment aid

660,000 pensioners in Germany depend on basic security

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The number of pensioners in basic security has increased by twelve percent within a year. In view of the explosion in food and energy prices as a “poverty catalyst”, Left Party leader Dietmar Bartsch calls for a reform of the pension system.

IIn view of the inflation and as a result of the Ukraine war, more and more pensioners in Germany are dependent on basic state security. As the newspapers of the Funke media group reported on Monday, citing current data from the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, around 660,000 pensioners received basic security in December 2022. This corresponds to an increase of twelve percent year-on-year. From September to December 2022, the number of recipients of basic security rose by around 11,000.

All people who have passed the age limit for the pension and whose income is not sufficient to cover the cost of living can apply for basic security in old age. Since June 2022, refugees from Ukraine of retirement age have also been entitled to benefits under the Social Code under the usual conditions instead of under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act as before.

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But there are “not only war refugees from Ukraine, but also more pensioners in this country are slipping into poverty in old age,” said Dietmar Bartsch, leader of the Left Bundestag faction, to the Funke newspapers.

In view of the explosion in food and energy prices as a “poverty catalyst”, a renewal of the pension system is becoming increasingly urgent, said Bartsch and again called for the pension level to be raised. “This year, a one-time pension increase of ten percent would be necessary,” said the left-wing politician.

In fact, pensions will be increased on July 1, 2023 – but not as much as Bartsch demands. The amount increases by 4.39 percent in the old federal states and by 5.86 percent in the new federal states. Group leader Bartsch also calls for “a solidarity minimum pension of 1,200 euros”.

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