Women in Thuringia face higher risk of old-age poverty

Women in the German state of Thuringia face a higher risk of poverty in old age compared to men. Last year, nearly two-thirds of women in Thuringia who had contributed for 40 years received a pension of less than 1,446 euros. This amount falls below the national poverty line for single individuals, which is set at 1,445 euros net per month.

In contrast, only 43.8 percent of men in Thuringia with 40 years of insurance contributions received pensions below this threshold. The data, obtained by the German Press Agency from a response by the Federal Ministry of Labor to an inquiry by Left party Bundestag members, also shows that approximately 57 percent of women with 45 years of insurance received less than 1,446 euros, compared to nearly 40 percent of men.

The official statistics indicate that the poverty risk rate for individuals aged 65 and older in Thuringia was 18.7 percent last year, though this figure does not differentiate by gender. The ministry's data does not specify how many pensioners lived alone or possessed other assets.

The Left party expressed concern that proposed pension reforms could exacerbate old-age poverty. Sarah Vollath, the party's spokesperson for pension policy, stated that suggestions like abolishing penalty-free retirement after 45 years of insurance would disproportionately affect those already struggling with low pensions. She argued that such reforms would effectively end penalty-free early retirement for long-term insured individuals, pushing the retirement age further past 63.