The "wir pflegen" association is calling for higher pension contributions!

Those who take on caring responsibilities in Germany are severely disadvantaged when it comes to pensions. According to a written question submitted to the federal government by MP Matthias W. Birkwald (Die LINKE), family carers who reduce their working hours due to the high level of care they provide have to make do with up to 13,000 euros less pension. It can be assumed that the subsequent costs of giving up work will be significantly higher. Under certain conditions, pension contributions are paid into the pension fund for family carers. However, wir pflegen e. V. believes that these contributions are far too low to really prevent poverty in old age. For example, the pension for caring for a person in need of care in care grade 2 increases by only 8.34 euros after one year. The amount even decreases if benefits in kind such as an outpatient care service are used. In comparison: the pension entitlement of an average earner in Germany is around 31 euros per year. This means that caring responsibilities, which usually last for years, often lead to meagre pensions. B.E.-Boge explains what this means in concrete terms for family carers: "I decided to give up my job when my part-time work became incompatible with caring for my mother at home. Colleagues placed my parents in a care home and continued to receive my salary and pension payments. Home care doesn't just mean giving love, it means saving the welfare state a lot of money. A cynic would say that my pension is below the poverty line as thanks for this!" Christian Pälmke, expert consultant for care policy and family care at wir pflegen e. V., comments: "The government calls carers silent heroes, but is not prepared to protect them from poverty during and after care. That doesn't add up. We are calling on the federal government to take immediate measures to combat poverty in old age in the home care sector." wir pflegen e. V. therefore supports the initiative announced by the Left Party to campaign for higher pension contributions together with social organisations. Background: There are currently around 3 million people in need of care in Germany. Almost three quarters of them are cared for at home - almost without exception by relatives, who often jeopardise their own economic existence and health to do so. According to current estimates, the economic value of the unpaid work of relatives amounts to around 37 billion euros a year, significantly more than the total revenue volume of both care insurance schemes (as of 2016). wir pflegen e.V. is the organisation representing the interests of family carers in Germany. You can find more information here.