Erwerbsminderungsrenten = Armutsrenten. Ein vergessenes soziales Problem?

This article addresses the problem of insufficient levels of social security for recipients of a permanent disability pension, the numbers of which are growing. On the basis of statistics from the German Federal Pension Fund it is shown that the levels of payments that are made to recipients of a permanent disability pension have been falling for years. In the search for causes for this downward trend reference is made to changes in benefit entitlements in the Federal Pension Fund (pension reductions, lowering of pension levels) on the one hand, and on the other hand to the course of employment of those people affected is analysed with reference to labour market risks and levels of so-called earning points which measure pension entitlement. As a result it is seen that the risk of current and future old-age poverty is concentrated particularly on the recipients of a permanent disability pension. It is therefore argued that improvements in pension payments should be pushed for, and above all in connection with an extension f the non-contributory supplementary period, the limitation of deductions and a stabilising of the pension level.