Linke on pensions

The Left wants a pension insurance into which everyone with earned income pays, including civil servants, the self-employed and members of parliament. In the platform's view, the public pension has a fairness problem rather than a demographic one, and this would allow the pension level to rise.

The Left wants one pension fund for everyone who works. Civil servants, self-employed people and lawmakers would pay in too. Then the fund has more money. That way pensions can go up.

People with a Riester contract or similar private pension plan could transfer it into the public pension. Voluntary contributions to the pension insurance would be made easier. Company pensions would remain as a supplement but would have to be at least half employer-funded. The platform also names immigration, high employment among women and fewer low-wage jobs as conditions for a secure pension.

The Left wants to raise the pension level to 53 percent and double the income ceiling for contributions. Low pension entitlements would be upgraded. The party rejects a stock-based pension as risky and expensive.

The Left wants higher pensions. The pension level should rise to 53 percent. People with high pay would pay contributions on more of it. Pension money should not be invested in stocks.

Entitlements of low earners, the unemployed, parents and caregivers would be upgraded. Wages in eastern Germany would continue to be revalued until 2030 so that pensions converge. The platform calls for higher subsidies from tax revenue for this. Benefits such as the Mütterrente (pension credit for child-rearing) and the Grundrente (basic pension supplement) would no longer be paid from contributions. Together with unions and welfare associations, the party rejects the planned Generationenkapital (stock-based pension fund).

The Left wants to lower the standard retirement age to 65. Anyone who has worked and paid contributions for 40 years could retire at 60 without deductions. In the platform's view, retirement at 67 amounts to a pension cut.

The Left wants people to retire at 65. Today the age is rising to 67. Anyone who worked 40 years could retire at 60. Their pension would not be cut.

The platform argues that a later retirement age means less pension for everyone. It says people in jobs that cannot be done into old age are hit hardest. The age limit of 65 would apply to everyone. Leaving at 60 requires 40 years of work with one's own contributions.

The Left wants to introduce a solidarity-based minimum pension. People whose pension is too low would get a top-up to the at-risk-of-poverty line, currently about 1,400 euros. The aim is to prevent poverty in old age.

Some people get only a very small pension. The Left wants to give them a top-up. Their pension would then be about 1,400 euros. Nobody should be poor in old age.

The minimum pension is aimed at people whose pension is not enough to live on because of poorly paid work, involuntary part-time work or unemployment. In addition to the top-up, health and long-term care insurance contributions would be covered. In areas with very high housing costs, a rent subsidy may be added.

The Left wants to keep the upward adjustment of eastern German wages in pension calculations until 2030 and legally correct how East German pensions were transferred after reunification. A higher minimum wage and more collective bargaining coverage are meant to close the wage gap with the West.

Wages and pensions are lower in the East than in the West. The Left wants to change that. Eastern wages should keep counting more for pensions. The minimum wage should rise to 15 euros.

The platform notes that incomes in the East are on average 17 percent lower and pensions after 40 years of contributions are 150 euros lower. Alternatively, the conversion factor would apply until an eastern non-city state overtakes a western one in average wages. Affected occupational groups would get one-time payments from a new "justice fund." The minimum wage would rise to at least 15 euros and to 16 euros by 2026.