"Bufdi" deployment for others: Voluntary service brings bonus points for pension
As part of voluntary service, young people not only gain valuable experience, but can also increase their future pension. And this without having to make any contributions themselves.
The "Bufdi" Voluntary Service offers a wide range of opportunities, including elder care, childcare, and nature conservation. It's important to note that when a person volunteers for such a service, their employer pays into the pension insurance. The German Rentenversicherung (DRV) points this out.
During the time spent volunteering, the person is compulsorily insured in all branches of social insurance, including the pension insurance. The employer alone pays these contributions, reporting the FSJ or FÖJ volunteers to the relevant pension insurance provider and transmitting the durations and salaries.
Volunteers receive a stipend, currently capped at 676 Euros per month for full-time service. Additionally, employers may offer non-monetary benefits like accommodation and meals. Volunteering for the benefit of others also benefits one's future pension. Firstly, the year of voluntary service counts towards the minimum insurance periods required to receive a state pension. Secondly, the pension is higher the more contributions have been made.
Even though the monetary value of a voluntary service may not be large, it all adds up in the end. The DRV cites a calculation example in its brochure: an FSJler in 2025 would receive a monthly stipend of 490 Euros, including non-monetary benefits. The employer paid 91.14 Euros in contributions each month. This increases the future monthly pension of the FSJler by 4.75 Euros.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
