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Anyone who receives a pension receives discounts with a pension card. The card offers pensioners many discounts and advantages. In this article, we show some advantages that are worth cash.
The new pension card
The new pension card in credit card format is sent to new pensioners together with the welcome letter. The Pension Service of Deutsche Post AG is responsible for this service and also handles the payment of pensions.
The new pension card replaces the previous paper card, which had to be cut out of the pension certificate. In addition to the practical credit card format, the pension card contains important information such as the name, date of birth and pension insurance number of the holder. This data enables the card to be assigned personally and clearly.
Discounts on local public transport
Pensioners who show identification can get reduced tickets for local public transport in many places in Germany. Sometimes the monthly or annual tickets are cheaper, in other cities pensioners travel at a reduced price on certain days of the week.
Important: These rules vary from city to city and from transport company to transport company. So ask locally if you can get discounts there and also ask at the respective location if you are travelling elsewhere.
The Munich MVG, for example, provides an IsarCard65 for pensioners. This saves between 10.00 euros and over 100.00 euros, depending on the tariff.
Cheap with Deutsche Bahn
The BahnCard 50 costs only half for pensioners aged 65 and over. Since all train tickets to more distant places only cost 50 percent with this card, this investment is particularly worthwhile for pensioners. Since they are no longer working, they can make full use of the BahnCard.
With your pension card in the amusement park?
A visit to an amusement park can easily cost 35 euros, and that is something that someone who has to apply for basic social security on top of their low pension can hardly afford. However, with a pension pass, there is a discount in many places.
Where is the pension pass worthwhile?
In everyday life, there are many discounts for pensioners. Sometimes a discount is granted based solely on age, but often the condition is that you have to prove your pension with a pension pass.
Cinema, theatre and museum
Cinemas, theatres and museums, zoos and botanical gardens, castles and historical sites often have reduced prices for pensioners and usually require ID to be shown in order to receive this discount.
In the Hamburg Kunsthalle, for example, pensioners only have to pay a small entrance fee on “Golden Friday”, and they also get coffee and cake.
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Sports and Stadium
Football, ice hockey or other sporting events can often be attended more cheaply with a pension card. This discount can be up to 50 percent.
Education in old age
A pension card also offers advantages in terms of educational opportunities. Some adult education centers offer cheaper courses for pensioners, and in many libraries, holders of a pension card can use the services at a reduced rate.
Health and Wellness
It is especially important for older people to do something for their health, such as swimming or going to the sauna. Swimming pools and saunas often offer discounts for pensioners. This does not always involve the pension card.
For example, the leisure facilities at Center Parcs offer discounts for people over 55 years of age.
Discounts in hotels
Many hotels have discounts for seniors. It’s worth asking, as these discounts are usually not advertised publicly.
Best Western Hotels, however, offer a 15 percent discount in all their properties for all guests aged 55 and over.
The pension certificate comes automatically
Since 2020, it is no longer necessary to apply for a pension card. When the pension begins, those affected receive it from the pension service of Deutsche Post AG.
Pensioner card in the European Union
The German pension card is usually recognized in other EU countries. Here, too, there are often discounts in the areas mentioned, such as public transport, cultural events or sports.
So don’t forget your pension card when you go on holiday. Since many people use public transport far more when travelling than they do in their everyday lives at home and go to many more museums, botanical gardens or theatres than at home, they have more money left in their travel budget.
Discounts for pensioners in banking and finance
You should also definitely ask banks. Many banks have special offers for pensioners who can show identification and, for example, charge lower fees for maintaining a checking account.
Dr. Utz Anhalt is a book author, publicist and historian. In 2000 he completed a Magister Artium (MA) in history and politics at the University of Hanover. His main areas of expertise are social law, social policy and natural sciences. He has worked as a research assistant on documentaries for ZDF, History Channel, Pro7, NTV, MTV and Sat1.
