🧭 Overview: money in retirement

Statutory pension, tax, health insurance, basic income support, housing benefit: this page shows what matters for money in retirement and where to read on.

pension retirement age basic income support housing benefit taxation of pensions Aktivrente overview

In brief

Many money topics come together in retirement. You have to apply for your pension. It may be taxable. Health insurance is paid out of the pension. If the money is not enough, there is basic income support in old age (Grundsicherung im Alter) or housing benefit (Wohngeld).

This page is a guide. It does not replace personal advice.

Important in 2026: Pensions rise by 4.24 percent on 1 July 2026. The Aktivrente (tax-free earnings for people working past pension age) has applied since 1 January 2026. Many other reforms are only proposals or drafts and do not apply yet. Read the page on the pension adjustment for details.

For more on care, inheritance law, lasting power of attorney and digital topics, see the Wegweiser group Senioren (senior citizens); for the reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente), see the group Berufsunfähigkeit (occupational disability; a separate group for people with reduced earning capacity is planned). This group is about money.

Step by step

Clarify your situationAre you already retired, about to retire, or a surviving dependant? That decides which page fits.
Check your pension statement and accountRead the pages on type of pension, application and pension statement so that the start of your pension is right.
Check your net pensionTax and health insurance reduce your pension. Check both.
If money is tight, check benefitsBasic income support in old age and housing benefit are two possible benefits.
Use advice servicesThe pension insurance provides free advice. Social associations often advise their members.

Deadlines

1 month

Objection (Widerspruch) against a notice of decision (Bescheid), from notification (abroad: 3 months)§ 84 SGG

3 calendar months

Pension application after the requirements are met, so that the pension is paid retroactively from the month of entitlement§ 99 Abs. 1 SGB VI

4.24 %

Pension adjustment on 1 July 2026Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Meldung zur Rentenanpassung 2026

Watch out – common mistakes

Proposals of the Old-Age Security Commission (report of June 2026) are not yet law. Until a law is passed, according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung only the existing pension law applies.
The pension is not paid automatically; you have to apply for it.
The pension insurance never asks you by phone, e-mail or text message to give payment details (see the page on fraud).
Applies to Germany. For pensioners living abroad: see the separate page.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Structure of this group

The pages follow the course of life: type of pension and deductions (§§ 35 ff. SGB VI), application and pension statement, pension notice and objection, pension adjustment 2026, additional earnings and Aktivrente (§ 3 Nr. 21 EStG), taxation, health and long-term care insurance, basic income support in old age (SGB XII), housing benefit, survivors' pension and pension splitting on divorce (Versorgungsausgleich), occupational pension/Riester/Rürup, pension from abroad, fraud, advice.

Scope

The reduced earning capacity pension is only mentioned here (§ 34 Abs. 2 SGB VI provides that after an old-age pension has been granted, a switch to a pension for reduced earning capacity is not possible). The types of reduced earning capacity pension are explained by the group Berufsunfähigkeit.

Legal position

September 2026. Plans that have been announced but not yet passed are expressly marked as such on the individual pages.

Who is responsible

Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance; federal body and regional carriers)
Sozialamt (social welfare office) or basic income support office
Housing benefit office of the municipality, city or district administration
Finanzamt (tax office)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Overview: money in retirement“?

Statutory pension, tax, health insurance, basic income support, housing benefit: this page shows what matters for money in retirement and where to read on.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

1 month: Objection (Widerspruch) against a notice of decision (Bescheid), from notification (abroad: 3 months) (§ 84 SGG)
3 calendar months: Pension application after the requirements are met, so that the pension is paid retroactively from the month of entitlement (§ 99 Abs. 1 SGB VI)
4.24 %: Pension adjustment on 1 July 2026 (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Meldung zur Rentenanpassung 2026)

What should I do first?

Clarify your situation: Are you already retired, about to retire, or a surviving dependant? That decides which page fits.
Check your pension statement and account: Read the pages on type of pension, application and pension statement so that the start of your pension is right.
Check your net pension: Tax and health insurance reduce your pension. Check both.

What do I need to watch out for?

Proposals of the Old-Age Security Commission (report of June 2026) are not yet law. Until a law is passed, according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung only the existing pension law applies.
The pension is not paid automatically; you have to apply for it.
The pension insurance never asks you by phone, e-mail or text message to give payment details (see the page on fraud).

Evidence

Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Rentenanpassung 2026 (announcement of 5 March 2026), retrieved 21 September 2026
§ 99 SGB VI, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 21 September 2026
§ 84 SGG, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 21 September 2026
Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Alterssicherungskommission: Was die Vorschläge bedeuten würden, 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.