Social policy : The respect pension is worth discussing

The Minister of social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, launched the idea of a respect-pension polarized to the right. Nevertheless, or precisely for that reason, it is a good basis for discussion. In addition to many Details to clarify, and to incentive effects, consider the very fundamental question of who should be paid, in our society, "respect". And the reverse is also true: If the Mainstream politics don't win in Germany, the respect of the people again, the bad luck had in life, often from birth, then this will probably not be elected a Populist like Donald Trump to the Chancellor, but further success of the AfD will make it difficult to make a proper policy.

From our personal point of view, it is understandable and politically correct, that with respect to pension old people who have very low pensions, under certain conditions, be made better than younger recipients of basic security. For those who are today old – retirement age or close to it – have not worked in the rule voluntarily, so little or such low wages that their retirement is now so low. Structural unemployment, lack of childcare opportunities, not taking into account maintenance obligations, and no minimum wage characterize many of the older employment biographies.

It is certainly true that the respect-pension, which dispenses with an examination of the entire income, does not help the needy only, and the one or other of the recipient of the respect-pension has already enough or even plenty of money. The administration of the pension scheme do not know who has why paid low contributions. Therefore, those who were voluntarily employed part-time benefit, as well as those who have involuntarily found a better Job. This is to discuss in fact.

But a piece of this blur, just with the respect. Even if the much-quoted, well-heeled wife of a Dentist of an ordinary disability pension is not in urgent need in life, it needs to be charged, that she has just chosen a way of life that was laid out by the institutional framework of our Social and fiscal system for many years, almost close. Anyone who thinks that in the case of a wealthy married couple or pensioners with a considerable heritage to stay too much, should start elsewhere, namely in the tax law. But this is on another sheet.

daily mirror tomorrow location

Overview of the editor Stephan-Andreas Casdorff on the issues of the day from politics and Economics

Free

Professor Gert G. Wagner is Chairman of the social Advisory Board of the Federal government's photo to order: DIW/Florian Shoe

An aftercare social compensation

In any case, You should respect pension to judge differently, for on the one hand, people who are already in retirement or soon will reach, and on the other hand, for the younger and young people are able to decide on the extent of their activity in principle. In the case of the Elderly the respect to correct-pension structural problems, where they could change nothing; here it comes to post-conflict social compensation. In the case of those who are still living in the purchase and design options, it goes instead to better structures of the superannuation and tax law, as well as the General conditions in the economy and society.

in the long term, the demand for respect will be pensions will be smaller, since the minimum wage for higher pension entitlements in the low-wage sector. And you would distribute in marriages the pension rights to a later pension, both partners ("Splitting"), would be the Disincentive that a Partner is working only a little and on the respect-retirement speculation, is limited. In the future, you will need to also the Information on working time, which is the basis of the contribution payment into the pension account. Then the respect of the pension target can remain more accurately reserved for those who work many hours at low wages.

Coupled these measures with a continuous contribution requirement for different types of employment including self – employment phase, as well as efforts to the General awareness that the continuous development of one's own pension provision is taken into account on the CV in the case of acquisition decisions always should be.

respect-pension after 35 years of contribution, but not to the 34?

An honest discussion about respect-the pension must also make it clear that those who remain outside. Since the respect-pension should only be paid if compulsory contributions have been paid, will not be self-employed, the low paid voluntary contributions will benefit from. This is so involve deliberate and if you find it unfair, as I have said, Independent is generally a pension.

many years of Mini-jobbers has no respect for retirement; which is certainly, in turn, does not lead to injustice – to the debate on the justice for this group. But also here applies that the obligation to contribute to the pension should be changed.

Similarly, there are, of course, the criticism that it is hard to understand why someone with 35 years of contribution should receive the respect of a pension, but not someone with 34 years of contribution payment. While such minimum requirements in the social security law is not unusual, but with the years of contribution, increasing the amount of respect retirement is also conceivable.

Difficult is the question of whether someone who is retiring due to health problems, so due to "incapacity," the working life at an early stage and therefore not on 35 contribution years, will also remain outside. Disability is an important reason for poverty in old age and the people Concerned are entitled to respect. Therefore, you would have to expect to some extent high, if someone would achieve the 35 years if he stayed healthy – with many open questions.

If you want to grant the respect just for the work, should the reduction of the employment-pension for the young impaired more generous than is currently the case. The Problem of disability is already on the pension policy Agenda. The healing-a proposal revived in any case, this discussion.

The redistribution would be greater

The respect-pension would increase the redistribution in the pension insurance. Therefore, it is supposed to be financed from tax funds. But one could also argue – especially if one wants to emphasize the importance of respect – that a redistribution would be appropriate for persons with low pension entitlements, within the GRV, in order to make clear that the pension scheme itself has respect especially from those who have done a lot of work, although they have earned very little.

no one is happy about the increased spending. It is clear, however: anyone Who wants to the increase of low pensions, and the elect the Federal government, according to the coalition agreement, which does not come around more redistribution, no matter which model it is. Even if the pension is income dependent, but much more than that. To tens of the Equivalence between contribution payment and pension entitlement is breached is, therefore, in the first place, in the case of incapacity or in the case of the recent Changes to the so-called mothers pension. It is, therefore, a political decision, how much and to whom the redistribution is made in the pension scheme.

the healing proposal raises this question – and many more – is from our personal point of view, a win: Much to think about, all the problems will not solve. But it is entitled to discuss, as we do in our country with poverty in old age want to avoid to pay what price are we ready to accept that it is Affected, and that many others do not have the fear of it, in short: who do we respect want to pay.

The author and the author are the three scientific members of the social Advisory Board of the Federal government. Enter here your personal opinion again.

More about

the draft law in may, As Minister of social Affairs of salvation, the basic pension enforcing

Cordula Eubel