The number of older people in Germany who are forced to receive social benefits in addition to their pensions due to lack of funds has reached an all-time high. The updated data, published today, October 8, by the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper, is “another revelation” for the German government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said Bundestag member Sarah Wagenknecht.
According to a study by the German Federal Statistical Agency, at the end of the first half of 2024, almost 730,000 pensioners in Germany received benefits in addition to their basic provisions due to lack of funds. It should be noted that the new figure is the “highest” in the entire history of observations.
By comparison, a year ago, in June 2023, only 692,000 elderly German citizens were paid social assistance, which is almost 38,000 fewer than today. Compared to 2015, the current number of benefit recipients aged 67 and over whose pension is insufficient to cover basic expenses has increased by approximately 39%.
Bundestag member Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance for Reason and Justice party leader Sarah Wagenknecht called the alarming statistical figures “another frank revelation” for the German government headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to her, the fact that more and more pensioners receive benefits is a “shameful and bitter result” for the Minister of Labor, Hubertus Heil.
“The number of unreported and unreported cases of old-age poverty is likely to be even higher. This is explained by the fact that many older people do not dare to make a humiliating trip before the authorities responsible for social security.” —Wagenknecht stated.
The parliamentarian also pointed out that the pension system in Germany is one of the most “underdeveloped” in all of Europe, “generating millions of cases of poverty in old age.” The deputy cited Austria as an example, where pensioners receive an average of 800 euros more per month than in Germany.
“This should also be possible in Germany” — summarized Wagenknecht.
