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Pension increase: 18.67 euros for lifelong effort – what does that mean?
In the Uckermark, a pension increase of 18.67 euros is causing frustration among seniors. A look at the current challenges.
Pension increase: 18.67 euros for lifelong effort – what does that mean?
Thousands of seniors in Germany have received their new pension notices in the last few days, and the reactions to them are often sobering. This is also the case with Elke Madeja, a 71-year-old pensioner from Prenzlau. She received an increase in her pension of just 18.67 euros, which she found “laughable”. That's what he reports Northern Courier and thus highlights the frustrating situation that many older people find themselves in.
Madeja has worked hard throughout her life - first in road and civil engineering in the GDR, then as a warehouse worker, before health problems forced her to become unemployed at the age of 55. At the age of 60, she dared to make a new start in geriatric care. But this work was not without challenges, as she had to undergo multiple operations, most recently because of a tumor. Despite the setbacks, she doesn't give up. She actively shares her experiences on social networks.
The situation many older people find themselves in is alarming. According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which is based on over 30,000 people, seniors over 60 are increasingly suffering from financial difficulties. The poverty rate in Brandenburg rose to 14.9 percent last year, affecting around 381,000 people. The rising cost of living due to higher prices for energy, housing and food is particularly affecting older people and young families BMAS notes.
Pension development and poverty
A further look at the pension system shows that the ratio between the standard pension and the average annual salary has been continuously declining since the 1970s. The pension level is currently less than 50 percent of the average income Federal Agency for Civic Education summarizes. This means that the statutory pension is not sufficient to ensure a standard of living in old age.
Statutory pension insurance remains the most important old-age security system in Germany, but many still rely on additional private or company pension provision. In West Germany, around 56 percent of the gross income of people over 65 comes from pension insurance, and in East Germany even around 85 percent. This illustrates the dependence of pensioners on this source of income, while purchasing power suffers due to shrinkage in the real standard pension.
With all of these developments, coupled with personal fates like Elke Madeja's, it becomes clear that the challenges for many older people in Germany are enormous. They face not only financial problems, but also health and social problems that deserve more attention in society.