Less money for millions of pensioners

Berlin –
The election is over, the new government is in office, and now beginning to come the bitter facts on the table.
The first shock came on Tuesday, the 20 million pensioners in Germany. You have to adjust to seven lean years. By 2016, their pensions are unlikely to rise.
Alexander Gunkel, chief executive of the German Pension Insurance Association (DRV), let the cat out of the bag. 2010 and 2011 there would be for the pensioners clear rounds, until 2012 was once again expect a slight increase in pensions, "said Gunkel.
The reason for the zero-rounds: Because of the crisis (short-fall, etc.), wages are indexed to the pensions. Consequently, so Gunkel, had the pension should be reduced by 2010 to 0.5 percent. Only the measures decided by the grand coalition government pension guarantee has prevented this.
But this "benefit" of the old government is a dummy package that must abstottern pensioners now slowly. For, although the warranty states that the pension may be reduced. But it also specifies that the cuts must be made up.
Starting in 2012, possible increases in pensions will therefore vary only half as high as the wage increases. Even when the economy is booming, it will therefore give only small adjustments for retirees. Would not be caught up by 2016 pension cuts made in the circumference of 3,5 to 4.0 percent, says Gunkel.
For comparison, in July 2009 there were 2.4% and 3.4% in the west to the east, the highest rent increase in a decade - thanks to strong wage increases just before the crisis. Such increases are for the time being no longer in sight. If wages rise by 1%, would allow pensioners 0.5% more - at 1,000 euros pension flaccid 5 euros. Ulrike Mascher, President of VdK: "They are miserable outlook for pensioners."




