According to recent data from the Federal Statistical Office, the number of seniors relying on social assistance has increased significantly over the past decade. As of September 2024, approximately 730,000 seniors, a 40,000 increase from the previous year and a 220,000 increase from 2015, were receiving basic social security benefits. This represents a 43% rise, while the 60-and-over age group has only grown by around 12% in the same period.
“This is a tragic all-time high for age-related poverty” said Sahra Wagenknecht, a leading candidate for the BSW, in an interview with a major German media group. “The fact that over 40,000 more retirees have fallen into poverty compared to last year is a dramatic increase. And this is only the tip of the iceberg, as many seniors are likely to be underreporting their need for assistance due to shame. Age-related poverty is a major problem for our country.”
Breaking down the basic social security numbers by gender reveals that older women are disproportionately affected. Beyond the age of 65, around 100,000 more women received basic social security benefits than men.
Wagenknecht advocates for a fundamental reform of the pension system, stating, “Germany has one of the weakest pension systems in Europe. The pension level is 10% below the EU average. That’s why we’re calling for a nationwide referendum on the pension in our election program. Germans should have the opportunity to vote on the introduction of a pension system similar to Austria’s. If a long-term insured retiree in Austria can expect an average of 800 euros more per month, it should also be possible here.