Susanne Wolf
The letter from the SVA is here, the title "The new pension account" sounds promising. But the bold number inside the letter is not encouraging - this is supposed to be my pension? Only with exact Nachlesen becomes clear: Here it concerns a provisional number, which indicates the past credit balance of the pension. Although the pension insurance campaign aims to boost trust in the statutory pension, for many it does the opposite. A lot of questions remain unanswered: how much will the pension actually turn out? How long will I have to work to find a living?
My first call reaches the service hotline for me SVA, which was set up on the topic of the pension account. The lady on the other end of the line patiently explains to me what the missing insurance periods in my listing are. I also receive valuable information on boarding on the subject of childcare. Up to four years are taken into account for raising children. My next contact person is Wolfgang Panhölzl, expert for pension at the Chamber of Labor Vienna: "The value in the pension account shows how much the pension would be if you did not pay anything in return. More important is the bill, how much monthly remains, when the retirement age of 65 years is reached. "The retirement age of 65 years? I learn: For women born to 1.12.1963, the rule retirement age is 60, then the starting age gradually increases to 65 years. For men, the - statutory - retirement age of 65 years remains the same.
More appreciation for the elderly
The domestic pension system is based on the so-called intergenerational contract: the working people finance the pensions of the elders. But this system - also called pay-as-you-go system - dates back to the 1950 years; Today, people live longer and get a pension longer. At the same time, the retirement age for the pension has declined, the age of entry has risen because of more comprehensive training. On average, men are currently retiring with 65 rather than the planned 59 years, women with around 57.
Manfred Felix, Chairman of the Pension Insurance Institution (PVA), explains this with the invalidity and early retirement benefits that are taken. He weakens the argument that employees are getting older and healthier: “People are perhaps physically healthier than before, but the mental illnesses are increasing. "
"We urgently need an effective bonus-malus system that obliges companies that employ little or no older workers."
Wolfgang Panhölzl, expert for pension at the Chamber of Labor Vienna
Political scientist Peter Filzmaier sees things differently: "Older people have been told far too often that they would not be suitable for the job market, instead of appreciating it. However, politics, business and the media need to convey the opposite picture. "The years in which contributions are fed into the pension system are thus decreasing - while the number of pension years is rising due to growing life expectancy. On top of that, for workers starting from the 55. Year of unemployment is the most widespread. "The data of the Federation of Social Security show that around 20 percent of companies with more than 25 employees do not employ a single person for 55 years," says AK expert Panhölzl. "Regardless of the industry in which they operate." At present, the state must pay 4,6 billion in direct grants from the budget to the pension system.
How can this work in the future? "We urgently need an effective bonus-malus system that obliges companies that employ little or no older workers," says Panhölzl. In the government program, such a system is agreed, which sets an older quota, but the implementation is slow.
Reforms required to pension
In 2012, more than 50 supporters from science, business and politics launched a “call for a comprehensive and sustainable reform of the pension insurance system”. The experts called for an alignment to the Swedish pension model: There the contributions are paid into an account and then real interest is paid. There is no legal stipulation when someone has to retire, but this decision is passed on to the individual responsibility. The retirees get what they have saved in their working life - regardless of when they retire. Swedish couples have to decide how they will share the pension entitlement if one partner stays with the children for a few years. Interesting detail: Every seventh Swede returns from retirement to work in order to earn further contributions. "In Sweden, however, there are significantly higher contributions to pensions than in Austria, as well as huge public pension funds," adds Panhölzl. PVA chairman Felix is also critical of the Swedish model.
"If there are nearly two million people living in 60 in Austria today, and 2050 is about 3,2 millions in XNUMX, everyone can figure out that funding will be more difficult at the current retirement age."
Peter Filzmaier, political scientist
Pension: The uncertainty is great
According to a survey by market research institute Marketmind, 30 percent of Austrians do not believe that they can count on a state pension. Almost half of those under 30 are even of that opinion. "This is the result of decades of negative campaigns by banks, insurance companies and so-called pension experts," Panhölzl suspects. According to the AK experts, the statutory pension was paid even during the biggest domestic crises, such as after the World Wars. Political scientist Peter Filzmaier on the other hand understands the insecurity of the boys: "If today in Austria almost two million people live over 60 years and it according to statistics in the year 2050 over 3,2 million, everyone can calculate that at the current entrance age to the pension the financing becomes more difficult "No government would decide, however, that the pension will no longer be paid out. "Since she could withdraw regardless of the party colors on the same day."
Filzmaier calls on the politicians to tackle the topic of pension more comprehensively. "A generational contract must not mean that the younger ones are just unlucky and in the future just have to pay more." The political scientist sees two ways to counter tax: "First, a higher birth rate and higher employment rate of women, which through the expansion of child care until government could be promoted to labor law measures. Secondly, a targeted immigration of workers, which must no longer be a socio-political taboo. "
Work until you drop?
A survey among friends shows that there is great uncertainty about future pensions: "I worked as a freelance micro-entrepreneur for 15 years and couldn't afford any payments for the pension," says Lisa Engel, 48. "My small earnings went straight to the three of them Children that I raised alone. "Engel does not expect to get a pension (the letter from the PVA has not yet reached her) and is going other ways:" I invest my life in the development of complementary economic and life systems like Exchange groups, regional currencies, living in community or food sharing. ”The self-employed in particular often have little trust in pension insurance, as journalist and author Martina Gross (name changed) confirms:“ My account contains a ridiculously low number because the state cannot manage it to credit my 13 years of service abroad at a university of applied sciences. ”Gross sees only one possibility with a black humor:“ We iterate until death. ”She is not alone with this attitude; many self-employed people can imagine working longer than their mid-60s. The Pension Act enables unrestricted additional earnings to the standard pension. "However, this does not apply to a pension that is started early, such as a disability pension," adds PVA chairman Felix.
"Private insurers use their pension calculators to represent the statutory pension entitlement in current income relationships, but they take nominal values to close the pension gap. This creates a distorted picture. "
Wolfgang Panhölzl, Chamber of Labor Vienna, on the calculation of the pension
Beware of private providers
And what is the infamous pension gap? "This is the monthly amount of money that lacks the last labor income," explains AK expert Panhölzl. "With the aid of the pension calculator of the AK, the actual pension entitlement can be calculated." In contrast to the pension calculator of the PVA, the pension can also be calculated taking into account inflation (nominal value). Panhölzl advises against using this nominal or inflation-adjusted value in order to make comparisons with the commitments of private insurers. "Private insurers claim on their pension calculators in current income relationships, but they take nominal values to close the pension gap. This creates a distorted picture. "The pension expert warns against prematurely closing an investment product. "If a pension gap remains, the additional purchase of insurance periods or the voluntary higher insurance can be considered."
It remains unclear why the misleading word "pension account" is used, even the PVA chairman knows no answer. After all, there is no account or savings account on which money would be available, but we continue to pay money for future generations. PVA boss Felix calls for better information: "We always receive requests from people who have received the account credit. Although it is already in the second paragraph of the letter that this is the previous pension credit, many believe that this would be their final pension. "
One thing is certain: the pension account is one way of dealing with one's own pension entitlements and offers transparency for the first time. And at the same time it is an invitation to more personal responsibility.
Read more about the future Pension in Austria, the Pension calculation and alternative ways of pension provision.
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