Around 21 million pensioners in Germany will receive more money from July. Pensions are rising by 4.24 percent, the federal government announced. The current pension value increases from 40.79 euros to 42.52 euros per earnings point. According to the German Pension Insurance, a so-called standard pensioner with 45 contribution years will receive 77.85 euros more per month.
At the same time, many citizens must file their tax returns for 2025. Those who prepare the return themselves have until July 31, 2026. If a tax advisor or income tax assistance association is commissioned, the deadline is March 1, 2027.
Citizen’s income (Bürgergeld) will be abolished in July and replaced by a new basic income support. The rules become stricter: missed appointments at the job center can lead to harsher sanctions, including benefit cuts. The protected assets are also significantly reduced and will depend on age – for those under 30, the limit is 5,000 euros; for those over 50, it is 20,000 euros.
Mini-jobbers have a one-time opportunity: those who previously opted out of compulsory pension insurance can reverse this decision from July 1. The application must be submitted to the employer. Then 3.6 percent of wages will go into the pension insurance, with the employer contributing a flat 15 percent.
Source: www.mdr.de
