Overview
- At focused sessions on Feb. 23–24, the Alterssicherungskommission examined raising the statutory age, including life‑expectancy links that could eventually reach 70.
- The commission is weighing steeper deductions for early retirement and significantly larger bonuses for working beyond the standard age.
- Economists diverge on pace: Martin Werding proposes a very gradual path that would only hit 70 by 2091, while Bernd Raffelhüschen urges a faster move starting around 2030 with tougher early‑exit penalties.
- Expanding contributions to currently excluded groups is on the table, with a YouGov survey showing 62% support for widening the payer base as the dbb union warns bringing civil servants into the system would be costlier.
- Parallel reforms under consideration include easing guarantees on state‑subsidised products to allow ETF‑style options, as the cabinet’s prior decision holds the pension level at 48% to 2031 with the contribution rate rising to 18.8% in 2027.