The basic pension surcharge is that high

Anyone who has worked for a lifetime but deserves little can benefit from the basic pension. But how much is that concrete? Our table shows you.

Many pensioners have worked for decades – but still little pension. The basic pension was introduced for exactly these people. Those who meet the requirements will receive a surcharge to the statutory pension. But how high is this surcharge? Our tables for the basic pension give a quick overview.

The basic pension is not a separate pension entitlement, but a surcharge to the statutory pension, which the German pension insurance automatically checks and pays out. It was introduced in early 2021 and is said to help long -term insured persons with low incomes.

In order to be entitled to basic pension, you must be able to show at least 33 years at basic pension times and have achieved between 30 and 80 percent of the average earnings in your professional life. For, for example, this is at least around 1,262 euros and a maximum of around 3,366 euros gross per month. You can read what is considered basic pension times here.

However, a claim to basic pension does not yet mean that money is actually paid out. This only turns out after an income test. Depending on how high your actual pension is and whether there are further income, the basic pension surcharge decreases or may be completely eliminated. However, allowances apply. These are 1,438 euros a month for singles in 2025 and for couples at 2,243 euros.

The taxable income that exceeds the allowance will be credited to an amount of 1,840 euros for single people and 2,646 euros for couples 60 percent. The income share above 1,840 euros or 2,646 euros is 100 percent counted towards the basic pension. Read here what exactly the taxable income is.

The number of basic pension times also decides on the amount of the surcharge. In order to be able to receive the basic pension in full, you must have at least 35 years at basic pension times. The surcharge is paid in staggered between 33 and 35 years – i.e. in a shortened form.

For this, the pension insurance uses the so -called boundary value. It is 0.4 earnings points at 33 years, i.e. 40 percent of the average earnings, and increases evenly to 0.8 earnings points, i.e. 80 percent of the average earnings, for 35 and more years.

In other words, if you only meet the minimum basic pension time of 33 years, the pension points can only be upgraded to 0.4 pension points. If you get the maximum basic pension time of 35 years, the pension points of which can be upgraded to 0.8 pension points. In between, individual maximum amounts apply, which are shifted up to a further fraction of pension points every month, for example, 0.65 pension points for 34 years and 3 months.

• Read too: Is there a basic pension surcharge for widow’s pension?

Depending on which individual maximum amount applies to you, it may be that your basic pension surcharge is zero euros, even though you meet all the requirements. Namely, if your cut is at pension points above the maximum amount. This would be the case, for example, if you came to an average of 0.5 pension points, but only 33 years of basic pension times. Your pension points could then only be upgraded up to the value of 0.4. However, since they are already above it, there is no surcharge.

The amount of the basic pension is not based on the entire pension, but only on the earnings points from the basic pension times in which you have earned within the lower and upper limit. Important: More than 35 years do not count for the contract.

The following table shows you how much basic pension surcharge is possible depending on your own pension points before income is counted or if your income is below the allowance.

It is believed that they come to basic pension times for 35 years. Your pension points can therefore be upgraded to 0.8 pension points and thus the maximum possible value. It is also assumed that they have earned a salary in the 35 years between the lower and upper limit for the basic pension. This takes into account every 35 years of basic pension times when calculating the surcharge.

The calculation for this looks like this:

Your average pension points per year are doubled. If the result is below the maximum possible 0.8 pension points, this increase remains. Example: 0.3 pension points x 2 = 0.6 pension points. The increase remains by 0.3 pension points.