The Bundestag voted in favor of the introduction of the basic pension with the majority of the coalition groups. They are intended to improve small pensions of around 1.3 million people. The law can now also be dealt with by the Federal Council on Friday – and enter into force if approved on January 1, 2021.
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The basic pension is a signal for respect and more fair performance, said Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil before the vote. So far, too many people have experienced that they are not part of the “social center”, no matter how hard they struggled SPD-Politician. The basic pension should therefore also Core promise of the welfare state Renew: “Those who have worked all their lives are also secured in old age.” It also strengthens citizens’ purchasing power. Heil admitted that the Federal Government’s “central social policy reform project” was overdue and that many people had been waiting for it for a long time.
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Criticism of funding from the Union
The payment of the basic pension could also be delayed after the introduction on January 1 – among other things because of the work involved in the automatic income check. Deutsche Rentenversicherung expects payment to existing pensioners to start in July 2021, and all beneficiaries should be identified by the end of 2022. The basic pension is then paid retrospectively.
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Retirees with small earnings must have paid contributions for at least 33 years if they want to get a supplement. In the Union there has been criticism of the financing of costs estimated at 1.3 to 1.6 billion euros per year. Finance minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) actually wanted one Financial transaction tax to introduce to stock exchange transactions. But it is not in sight. Now the money comes from the federal budget.
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AfD and FDP voted against the draft of the coalitioners from CDU, CSU and SPD, Greens and Leftists abstained.
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