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Living at Hartz IV level In East Germany, there is a threat of a massive increase in old-age poverty
Already today many seniors in Germany live in poverty, especially women. According to a new study, the problem of old-age poverty will continue to worsen, especially in the eastern German states. The announced pension increase will not change that.
Old age poverty will increase in East Germany
According to a new study, poverty in old age threatens to rise sharply in the coming years, especially in eastern Germany. This reported the "Bild am Sonntag" (BamS) with reference to an investigation of the Bertelsmann Foundation. Women, singles and the low-skilled as well as migrants over the age of 65 are therefore particularly at risk. According to the survey, the highest poverty risk for 50 to 64-year-olds is in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt. According to a report by "focus.de", it states: "A further increase in the risk of poverty in old age, especially in the eastern German states, is expected within the next ten years."
Old-age poverty is increasing significantly, especially in eastern Germany. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com) In the west, the danger is greatest in Bremen
The study authors examined data from the 2013 Microcensus and identified the impending poverty of old age for different population groups. According to the figures, the risk of poverty among East Germans, who are currently 50 to 64 years old, is much higher than among the over 65s today. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania thus achieves the highest value. It is said that 23.6 percent of the 50- to 64-year-olds are at risk there. For the 65+ generation, this only accounts for 14.7 percent. It is followed by Saxony-Anhalt, where 21.8 percent of those aged 50 to 64 are at risk of poverty and 14.2 percent of people over the age of 65. Of the western German states, Bremen is statistically the worst there: There are 19 percent of the 50- to 64-year-olds and 15.8 percent of over 65-year-olds at risk of poverty.
Pension increases will not only reduce the risk for a short time
It was only recently announced that the strongest pension increase in over 20 years will come next year. But in the described scenario this will not change anything. According to the experts, currently rising pensions have no effect on the risk of poverty among the elderly. "The announced pension increase will reduce the growing poverty risk in old age only in the short term," said the project manager of the Bertelsmann Foundation, Anja Langness, to the newspaper.
Women more affected than men
Old-age poverty is already a big problem today. 16.2 percent of women and 10 percent of men are threatened. Among other things, the difference has to do with the pay gap between women and men in this country. Years ago, a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) came to the conclusion that there is no gender equality in Germany in terms of professional equality. In the Bertelsmann study, the authors write: "Women, singles, the low-skilled and people with a migrant background are particularly often threatened by poverty in old age."
Reduction of unemployment
People with a foreign nationality (39 percent) and a migration background (32 percent) have a far greater than average risk of poverty. The president of the social association VdK Germany, Ulrike Mascher, contradicted fears, the so-called refugee crisis would burden the pension system additionally. To the BamS she said: "The refugees will not burden the pension system - on the contrary." They are rather "future contributors". The study authors demand the reduction of unemployment, less low wages and less insurance-free employment, in order to prevent poverty in old age. In addition, more affordable and senior-friendly apartments must be created. (Ad)