https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you're leaving Germany for good and have worked for less than five years in the country, you may be able to get back the money you've paid in pension contributions. https://www.thelocal.de/20241111/can-you-get-your-pension-contributions-back-if-you-leave-germany Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:10:16 +0100 can-you-get-your-pension-contributions-back-if-you-leave-germany The German Bundestag voted on Friday to pass the pension package, which contains three laws intended to secure the pension system until at least 2031 and also establish the new 'active pension' as well as expand on 'mother's pension' benefits. https://www.thelocal.de/20251205/explained-what-exactly-is-germanys-controversial-pension-package Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:32:07 +0100 explained-what-exactly-is-germanys-controversial-pension-package German Chancellor Friedrich Merz dug in on proposed pension reforms Friday despite resistance from younger members of his conservative CDU party who fear they will saddle future generations with unaffordable costs. https://www.thelocal.de/20251128/merz-digs-in-on-pensions-bill-despite-party-rebellion Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:10:57 +0100 merz-digs-in-on-pensions-bill-despite-party-rebellion Many people don't begin saving for retirement until they start their career. From 2026 school children in Germany could get an early start thanks to a new government initiative, but not as many as originally proposed. https://www.thelocal.de/20250617/e10-a-month-germany-to-set-up-pension-accounts-for-all-children-from-age-6 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:53:15 +0200 e10-a-month-germany-to-set-up-pension-accounts-for-all-children-from-age-6 An incentive designed to keep pensioners in the workforce for longer will allow people over the age of 67 to earn up to €2,000 tax-free each month. https://www.thelocal.de/20251015/what-germanys-incoming-active-pension-means-for-retirees Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:26:27 +0200 what-germanys-incoming-active-pension-means-for-retirees Here's what you need to know about how your pension and social security rights apply, if you've spent time working in both the US and Germany, or worked in one and plan to retire in the other. https://www.thelocal.de/20241022/what-americans-living-in-germany-should-know-about-pensions Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:01:12 +0200 what-americans-living-in-germany-should-know-about-pensions Germany’s pension system rests on three pillars – a state pension, anything private you've set up for yourself, and extra contributions your employer might make as part of your company savings plan. Here’s how it works if your workplace is topping up your pension. https://www.thelocal.de/20240129/explained-how-can-my-german-employer-contribute-more-to-my-pension Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:19:28 +0100 explained-how-can-my-german-employer-contribute-more-to-my-pension Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he would like to allow working senior citizens to earn up to €2,000 a month tax free. The move comes in response to the ballooning costs of Germany's pension system. https://www.thelocal.de/20250904/seniors-back-to-work-as-ageing-germany-battles-pension-burden Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:03:42 +0200 seniors-back-to-work-as-ageing-germany-battles-pension-burden As government spending on pensions soars again and economists discuss options for financing ever-growing entitlements, Brian Melican examines the German system – and the prospects for everyone currently paying into it. https://www.thelocal.de/20250801/opinion-why-germanys-pensions-problems-will-soon-be-your-problem Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:43:17 +0200 opinion-why-germanys-pensions-problems-will-soon-be-your-problem Plans to set up pension accounts for children in Germany over the age of six are gaining momentum – and provoking significant debate in the German press. We look at what foreign residents need to know about the proposed scheme. https://www.thelocal.de/20250619/qa-what-we-know-about-germanys-plan-to-give-kids-pensions Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:23:25 +0200 qa-what-we-know-about-germanys-plan-to-give-kids-pensions To keep German pension contributions from spiralling, the new Labour Minister is pushing for a bold fix: making civil servants, politicians, and the self-employed pay into the system. https://www.thelocal.de/20250512/why-freelancers-may-have-to-pay-into-the-german-pension-fund-in-future Mon, 12 May 2025 14:40:45 +0200 why-freelancers-may-have-to-pay-into-the-german-pension-fund-in-future Starting this summer, pensioners in Germany are set to see a hike in their income, with the standard pension going up by around €66 per month. https://www.thelocal.de/20250306/german-pensions-set-to-increase-by-3-74-percent Thu, 06 Mar 2025 17:02:43 +0100 german-pensions-set-to-increase-by-3-74-percent Pensioners in Germany are likely to see a dip in their monthly income from March, but a recent statement from the federal bank suggests the pain will only be temporary. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20250303/explained-the-key-changes-affecting-pensioners-in-germany-this-march Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:01:43 +0100 explained-the-key-changes-affecting-pensioners-in-germany-this-march A senior citizen in Germany receives an average gross pension of €1,623 per month, according to a new analysis. But there are stark differences when it comes to regions and gender. https://www.thelocal.de/20241126/where-people-in-germany-receive-the-highest-pensions Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:43:41 +0100 where-people-in-germany-receive-the-highest-pensions Germany needs to take steps to improve its pension system according to a new study which highlighted its main problems this week. This comes as the federal government's pension reform plan has so far failed to move forward. https://www.thelocal.de/20241016/how-germany-needs-to-improve-its-pensions-system Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:54:11 +0200 how-germany-needs-to-improve-its-pensions-system If you spent your career years in Canada but are thinking you might spend your retirement years here in Germany... Here's what you need to know about how your pension rights apply. https://www.thelocal.de/20240903/what-canadians-living-in-germany-should-know-about-pensions Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:41:12 +0200 what-canadians-living-in-germany-should-know-about-pensions If you're a current - or soon-to-be - British pensioner who's thinking of moving to Germany, here's what you should know about whether - and how - your pension rights transfer over. https://www.thelocal.de/20240806/what-brits-in-germany-need-to-know-about-their-british-pension Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:53:12 +0200 what-brits-in-germany-need-to-know-about-their-british-pension A recent report from the German government reveals that around one in five people who have paid into the pension system for at least 45 years receives a monthly pension of less than €1,200 per month. https://www.thelocal.de/20240722/one-in-five-pensioners-in-germany-takes-home-less-than-e1200 Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:59:49 +0200 one-in-five-pensioners-in-germany-takes-home-less-than-e1200 Germany's Free Democrats (FDP) say they may vote against the pension reform if it leads to higher pension contributions for workers. https://www.thelocal.de/20240611/why-the-german-pension-reform-is-threatened-with-further-delays Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:45:55 +0200 why-the-german-pension-reform-is-threatened-with-further-delays If you're an Irish pensioner who's thinking of moving to Germany, here's what you should know about where your pension will be taxed, which pension plans are tax liable in Germany and what applicable tax rates are. https://www.thelocal.de/20240521/irish-pensions-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know Tue, 21 May 2024 11:20:12 +0200 irish-pensions-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know