Required age and pension amounts for retiring in Germany is a common topic of inquiry for many citizens researching retirement options online. To answer frequently asked questions and explain the most important points about retiring in Germany, we prepared this guide. By reading this article, you will learn;
- What is the required retirement age in Germany?
- How much monthly pension does the German government pay to retirees?
- What are the details of the pension package the German government enacted on January 1, 2019?
- Can mothers with children in Germany benefit from increased pension payments?
- How much pension do people who retire early due to illness or similar reasons receive?
- Does the German government provide benefits to low-income residents?
and more.
How to Retire in Germany
Turkish citizens who live in Germany and have worked for many years under the German social insurance system become eligible for retirement when they reach the required age. Turkish nationals who obtain German citizenship through the Blue Card system or other routes can also retire under the rules set by the German government. Many people search online about the conditions to receive pensions both from Germany and from Turkey.
Key points to know are;
- You must reach the retirement age set by the German government, and
- Your insured employment period must meet the required minimum length.
Retirement Age in Germany
Under the German social insurance system and government regulations, there are specific requirements to retire in Germany. The German authorities announced the retirement ages effective in 2019. To be eligible for a German pension, the required age is between 65 and 67. Turkish citizens living in Germany who reach these ages are considered to have met the age requirement for retirement.
After confirming the age requirement—one of the most frequently searched questions among expatriates—the government’s second major requirement applies. Turkish citizens who want to retire in Germany and have reached the age threshold of 65 to 67 must also have worked with social insurance coverage for at least five years. This five-year period corresponds to 60 months. Therefore, to grant a pension, the German authorities require proof that the applicant has reached the age limit and has at least 60 months of insured work. Alternative options may be available for applicants who meet the age requirement but lack the five years of insured employment.
What Should Citizens Do If Their Insurance Period Is Insufficient?
We have described the main conditions Turkish citizens living in Germany must satisfy to receive a German pension. If you meet these conditions, you can apply to the relevant institutions and receive a regular monthly pension from the German government. But what about those who meet the German retirement age yet have not completed the required insured period?
In such cases, missing months toward the five-year (60-month) insured requirement can often be supplemented by adding insured periods completed in Turkey. You can combine the periods of insured employment in Germany and in Turkey and apply for a partial pension from the German authorities. If you wish to learn about other pension options while residing in Germany, you can also obtain guidance from the local consulates and attachés.
German Government Increased Pensions
Many people are curious about the amount of pension paid in Germany. In this guide, we aim to answer common questions about retiring in Germany. At the end of last year, the German government announced good news for pensioners: a wage adjustment for pensions effective in 2019. According to the announcement, pensions were increased by 3% overall starting in 2019.
As is well known, pension amounts in Germany vary by region. Pensioners in western federal states receive different amounts than those in eastern states. After the government’s announcement, pensioners in eastern states received an average increase of 3.91%, while pensioners in western states received an increase of about 3.18%.
How Much Is the German Pension?
With the pension adjustment package announced in November of the previous year, the public was informed about the increase rates. Accordingly, pension amounts after the increase vary by federal state and monthly baseline. Examples of how the increases affected typical pensions are:
- A retiree with a 500 Euro pension: an increase of 15.90 Euro in western states and 19.55 Euro in eastern states.
- A retiree with a 600 Euro pension: a new amount of approximately 619.80 Euro in western regions.
- A retiree with a 700 Euro pension: a new amount around 722.26 Euro.
- A retiree with an 800 Euro pension: a new amount around 825.44 Euro.
- A retiree with a 900 Euro pension: a new amount around 928.62 Euro.
- A retiree with a 1,000 Euro pension: a new amount around 1,031.80 Euro.
- A retiree with a 2,000 Euro pension: a new amount around 2,063.60 Euro.
These figures provide an overview of how much Turkish citizens retiring from Germany may receive. Finally, we clarify issues relevant to mothers with children, low-income residents, and those forced to retire early for health reasons.
Details of Germany’s New Pension Package
As of January 1, 2019, Germany implemented a new pension package designed to secure pension levels through 2025 and to ensure that contribution rates do not exceed roughly 20 percent. Key measures in the new pension package include:
- Mothers who gave birth before 1992 will receive an additional pension credit of 2.5% for each child. For example, a 70-year-old mother with 30 pension points receiving about 960.90 Euro could receive additional pension income if she raised children before 1992, resulting in a measurable annual increase.
- Social deductions for low-income residents are reduced. From 2019, contributions deducted for unemployment insurance from low-income earners were eased, with a stricter cap lowered by 0.5 percentage points to reach a 2.5% level for certain measures.
- The question of “how many euros is the pension in Germany in 2019” gains clarification under the new system, while actual pension amounts still vary across federal states such as Hamburg, Bremen, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and western parts of Berlin.