Lohnender Einsatz: Pflege zu Hause: Wann dafür Rentenbeiträge gezahlt werden

Caring for a loved one can be both time-consuming and demanding, often requiring significant adjustments to a caregiver's employment schedule. This burden is predominantly carried by women, who may consequently reduce their working hours. However, this decision comes with a financial consequence: caregivers may also contribute less or no contributions to their statutory pension insurance, ultimately resulting in a smaller pension.

Nevertheless, under specific circumstances, the care pension may compensate for this shortfall. The care pension pays these contributions on behalf of the care recipient, which can be added to the minimum insurance period and may also qualify the caregiver for rehabilitation benefits. To be eligible for this assistance, the person being cared for must have a care level of at least 2, with care needs spread across at least 10 hours per week on at least two days.

The caregiver, on the other hand, cannot work more than 30 hours per week. The person requiring care must be entitled to benefits from either statutory or private care insurance and reside in Germany, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. The exact amount of pension contributions paid depends on the care level and the type of assistance provided by the care insurance.

To claim these contributions for one's pension, caregivers must apply to their care pension. Caregivers must complete a "Questionnaire on the Payment of Contributions to Social Security for Non-Earning Carepersons" and have the care pension verify and automatically pay the contributions if the eligibility criteria are met. For more detailed information, the Deutsches Rentenversicherung offers a free brochure on their website.