Alterssicherung: Dieser Kompromiss könnte die „Rente mit 63“ ersetzen

A new push in the dispute over the "Rente mit 63" has been proposed by IAB-Director Bernd Fitzenberger. He aims to limit the age-free early retirement to those who have worked for 42 years with no social insurance, instead of the current requirement of 45 years. Currently, contributions from years with social insurance, mini-jobs, child-rearing until the child's tenth birthday, civil and military service, caregiving, and periods of disability insurance are taken into account.

Without these considerations, the "Rente mit 63" would be significantly reduced, though not completely abolished, according to Fitzenberger. However, it would still be closer to the complete abolition than the current status quo. Fitzenberger's proposal would benefit those who have reached 45 years of contributions and have indeed worked for 42 years, allowing them to retire without any penalties.

The plan by the coalition to implement the Rent Commission's proposals as a "total work of art" has caused tension in the debate over the "Rente mit 63." The age-free retirement after 45 years of contributions, with a gradually increasing age of 65, is supposed to disappear as planned by the Rent Commission. However, this proposal faces opposition from three CDU Ministers-President Michael Kretschmer, Sven Schulze, and Mario Voigt from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, who threaten a blockade in the Bundesrat.

Several SPD government leaders have also announced their veto. Strong opposition comes from trade unions, who said they will "defend the Rente mit 63 with teeth and claws," according to Christiane Benner, the head of IG Metall, in an interview with the Handelsblatt. As of now, nearly 30 percent of all new retirees receive the "Rente mit 63," while an additional 25 percent receive it with penalties in early retirement.

It is unclear how many people would have to opt out of the "Rente mit 63" under Fitzenberger's proposal. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) only records the legal status of insurance at the last year before retirement. Fitzenberger assumes that the data in the pension insurance systems are available, as the pension entitlements are based on them.

If necessary, the legislator would have to obligate the Deutsche Rentenversicherung to prepare this information in a usable form. What Fitzenberger's proposal would mean in concrete terms is illustrated by this example: A person who raises two children within 15 years without any employment, cares for their parents for two years without pay, and works a mini-job for five years without pension contributions would accumulate only 22 years of contributions.

Even with an additional 23 years of social insurance, they would no longer have a chance of getting a "Rente mit 63" the way they do today. Military service time would no longer be counted either - in the West, it lasted up to 1990, while civilian service lasted 20 months. Years with a mini-job or illness would add to the number of years, and many might not reach the 42 years of social insurance necessary for the age-free retirement stipulated by Fitzenberger.

In return, Fitzenberger wants to encourage continued work. He takes up a proposal from his IAB colleague Enzo Weber: Those who continue to work despite meeting the conditions for the age-free retirement would still receive the monthly supplement of 0.5 percent before reaching the regular retirement age. Additionally, Fitzenberger wants to extend this principle to the retirement for "long-standing insured persons."

Currently, insured persons can retire with penalties at 63 after 35 years of contributions. In the future, this should only be possible after 40 years of contributions, with at least 38 years of social insurance. More: A possible compromise on the "Rente mit 63"?