Enhanced maternity benefits application guidelines to remember
Spiffy New Take on Parents' Pension
By: Jekaterina Jalunina
Mark your calendars! Starting from July 1, 2025, parents who applied for the mother's pension will receive three pension points per child - regardless of their children's birth year. This adjustment, a part of a proposed reform by the Merz government, aims to equalize pension points and provide better support for parents with children born before 1992.
Before diving into the details, let's clarify one thing upfront - the mother's pension is not a separate payment but rather recognition of child-rearing periods within the statutory pension insurance system. Parents gain pension points attributed to them for raising a child, whether they worked professionally during the child-rearing period or not.
As of now, parents of children born after 1992 receive three pension points for each child, while those whose children were born before 1992 receive 2.5 pension points per child. The reform will increase pension points to three for all parents, ensuring equal recognition for child-rearing periods. But remember - parents must apply for this benefit themselves to receive it.
Application Time: Keep That Pension Coming In
You might wonder, "If the government is planning to increase pension points, do I need to do anything?" Well, despite the upcoming reform, recognition does not occur automatically. Parents should take action and submit an application to secure the additional benefit.
The German Pension Insurance recommends submitting the application only when the youngest child has turned ten to ensure complete and correct recording of all child-rearing periods. The application can be submitted online via form V0800 or via the German Pension Insurance. If necessary, the advisory centers of the German Pension Insurance offer comprehensive support and assistance with the application process.
Gather Your Documents
Before submitting an application, it's best to check whether your children are already fully recorded in the insurance history. If child-rearing periods are missing or incomplete, submit the application. Already stored periods do not need to be re-applied for.
To submit an application for account clarification with the German Pension Insurance, gather the following pieces of information:
- Personal insurance number
- Power of attorney or guardianship certificate (if someone other than the insured is submitting the application)
- Birth certificates for children
- Details about child-rearing and the other parent
- Evidence of foreign insurance periods (for those who have worked abroad)
Now, let's toast to the future of fiscally stable families and the benefits that come with parenthood!
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