Wegweiser Pensioners · Pension, tax, basic income support and housing benefit explained Deutsch

🤝 Advice and contact points for pensioners

The Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Sozialamt, housing benefit office, Finanzamt and social associations give advice. This page says who is responsible for what.

pension advice Deutsche Rentenversicherung VdK SoVD Sozialamt housing benefit office Finanzamt pension advice

In brief

For every question there is a suitable office.

  • Pension, pension statement, application, notice: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, free of charge, telephone 0800 1000 4800 (Mon–Thu 8:00–19:00, Fri 8:00–15:30).
  • Basic income support in old age: Sozialamt (social welfare office).
  • Housing benefit: housing benefit office of your municipality, city or district.
  • Tax: Finanzamt (tax office).
  • Health insurance: your health insurance fund.
  • Objection and lawsuit: social associations such as VdK or SoVD.

Bring your pension notice and your pension statement to every appointment.

Step by step

  1. Classify your topicPension, tax, health fund, housing costs: choose the suitable office.
  2. Collect documentsNotices, pension statement, bank statements, rental contract.
  3. Make an appointmentBy phone or online with the responsible office.
  4. Keep an eye on deadlinesObjection: one month (§ 84 SGG).

Deadlines

0800 1000 4800
Free service telephone of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Mon–Thu 8:00–19:00, Fri 8:00–15:30Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Warnung vor Betrugsversuchen
1 month
Objection deadline against notices§ 84 SGG
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Social associations (VdK, SoVD) mostly advise members. Whether and on what terms, clarify with them. Costs and offers were not checked against the full text.
  • Pension advisers (Rentenberater) are legal service providers with a licence. Licence and fees not checked against the full text.
  • In the case of alleged calls from the pension insurance, always call the official number yourself.
  • This platform does not replace legal advice (RDG).
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Deutsche Rentenversicherung

The Deutsche Rentenversicherung gives 0800 1000 4800 as its free service telephone number (Mon–Thu 8:00–19:00, Fri 8:00–15:30). Regional carriers and advice centres: take addresses from the pension insurance (not listed here, not checked against the full text).

Sozialamt

Responsible for basic income support in old age (SGB XII). Apply there; according to the DRV the benefit starts on the first day of the month of application.

Housing benefit office

Municipal, city or district administration; often located in the Sozialamt.

Finanzamt

Responsible for income tax and the tax return.

Social associations

VdK and SoVD are well-known social associations with social law advice. Addresses, membership fees and the scope of representation were not checked.

Groups in this Wegweiser

For care, inheritance law and provision see Wegweiser Senioren, for the reduced earning capacity pension Wegweiser Berufsunfähigkeit, for income and liabilities Wegweiser Armut (poverty).

Who is responsible
  • Deutsche Rentenversicherung, 0800 1000 4800
  • Sozialamt (social welfare office)
  • Housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde)
  • Finanzamt (tax office)
Further reading
Overview: money in retirementChecking the pension notice and objectionRecognising pension fraud and fake messages

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Advice and contact points for pensioners“?
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Sozialamt, housing benefit office, Finanzamt and social associations give advice. This page says who is responsible for what.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 0800 1000 4800: Free service telephone of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Mon–Thu 8:00–19:00, Fri 8:00–15:30 (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Warnung vor Betrugsversuchen)
  • 1 month: Objection deadline against notices (§ 84 SGG)
What should I do first?
  • Classify your topic: Pension, tax, health fund, housing costs: choose the suitable office.
  • Collect documents: Notices, pension statement, bank statements, rental contract.
  • Make an appointment: By phone or online with the responsible office.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Social associations (VdK, SoVD) mostly advise members. Whether and on what terms, clarify with them. Costs and offers were not checked against the full text.
  • Pension advisers (Rentenberater) are legal service providers with a licence. Licence and fees not checked against the full text.
  • In the case of alleged calls from the pension insurance, always call the official number yourself.
Evidence
  • Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Warnung vor Betrugsversuchen (hotline), retrieved 21 September 2026
  • Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Grundsicherung (Sozialamt, Antragsbeginn), retrieved 21 September 2026
  • Bundesregierung, Im Kabinett: Wohngeld wird neu geordnet, retrieved 21 September 2026
  • § 84 SGG, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 21 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.