The pensions increase by more than five percent. The prospects are good for the older ones, but the younger ones have to take responsibility for it.
(Photo: dpa)
Pensioners must not be decoupled from prosperity in Germany, and one should not play off old and young against each other. But the expected pension increase of more than five percent in the coming year is unfair and difficult to convey.
While many workers are still suffering from the financial consequences of the corona pandemic, there is a huge plus for retirees. This is what the complicated pension adjustment formula wants.
The strong increase, which has a lasting effect, has to be paid by the younger generation with their contributions and taxes.
Now a future-forgotten policy of the grand coalition is taking revenge, which primarily focused on the large group of older voters and less on the youth. Because without the suspension of the so-called catch-up factor decided by the Union and the SPD, which dampens pension adjustments in times of economic crisis, the increase in the coming year would only be half as high.
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The retirement benefits would then not rise significantly more than the wages, and the pensioners could still look forward to a plus.
Pensions rise faster than wages – that is not future-oriented
If the SPD, Greens and FDP are serious about wanting to found a future coalition with their plans, then they should put the catch-up factor, which has been suspended until 2025, back into force as soon as possible. Otherwise, the contributors must continue to be financially responsible for the fact that pensions will rise faster than wages in the long term – which is anything but intergenerational.
Unfortunately, such a plan can only be found in the Liberals’ election manifesto. The FDP therefore has the chance to position itself in a future government as the voice of common sense in terms of pension policy.
A traffic light government should have the courage not only to spell out intergenerational justice when it comes to climate protection, but also to focus more closely than before in the social security systems.
Reinstating the catch-up factor would be an easy step in the right direction that could be implemented in the first year of government.
More: Pension expert Raffelhüschen: “The high pension level requires significantly higher contributions”