The Inflation Premium: Who Really Benefits from Retirement Bonuses?

It actually looks as if around 600,000 people will retire and collect the tax-free inflation bonus of 3,000 euros! The federal government is working on a corresponding implementation, as our editors found out on request.

However, only a fraction of all people who retire in Germany will benefit – and most of them are already privileged anyway.

The inflation premium often goes to people who are already well off when they retire

It’s about the pensioners from the federal sector. They now benefit from the agreement in the public sector. An increase in salaries of 5.5 percent from March 1, 2024 was agreed. Until then, there will be a gradual payment of a tax-free inflation compensation payment of 3,000 euros. This regulation also applies to municipal employees.

When we asked the Federal Ministry of the Interior, our editors were informed: “A draft law is currently being prepared for the system-compatible transfer of the results of the collective bargaining of April 22, 2023 to civil servants, judges, soldiers and also the federal pension recipients.” In official German, the pension recipients are the pensioners meant.

The government spokesman continued: “After completion, the draft must be coordinated with the other departments. After that, the timely cabinet discussion will be sought.”

This is what pensioners dream of: In the first round of payments, 1,240 euros will probably flow

The federal government will soon be launching the measures. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the first installment of the 3,000 euros, namely 1,240 euros, is to be paid out in June. This is unlikely to be the case for federal civil servants and pensioners. In which steps and by when the money will flow instead is still being coordinated.

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The fact that retirees, who on average are financially better off than average retirees anyway, now also receive the royalty-free special payments, may seem unfair to some.

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Although the pensions will now also be increased in July, the adjustment with an increase of 4.39 percent (West) and 5.86 percent (East) does not compensate for the additional burden caused by inflation. It remained at a high 7.2 percent in April.