Age poverty in Tuttlingen: Pensioners fight with financial need!

Age poverty in Tuttlingen: Pensioners fight with financial need!

In Germany, every 18th pensioner lives in dramatic financial circumstances and has less than 1310 euros net! This shocking number means that 18.4 percent of these older people are affected by extreme poverty. Particularly alarming: This is a direct increase in poverty among seniors compared to data before 2019, when they suffered even less often from the risk of poverty. Now they stand on par with disadvantaged groups such as children and single parents.

Women have to put up with the fact that their pensions are alarming! Instead of the required 1310 euros, many women in the old age receive only around 890 euros per month, while men get an average of 1373 euros. Due to parenting and care breaks, which often reduce career opportunities, it is more difficult for women to secure sufficient income. Experts consider private pensions to be more essential, since the statutory pension is no longer sufficient.

Rapid basic security

The number of people over 65 who rely on basic security has tripled in the past two decades! In 2023, almost 690,000 seniors receive state aid, compared to only 257,000 in 2003. In the Tuttlingen district, the increase is also noticeable: While only 652 people apply for basic security in 2019, the majority of them are already 755!

The city of Tuttlingen tries to alleviate the consequences of poverty in old age, for example through a senior passport, which enables numerous benefits. Despite this support, many seniors, shaped by shame or fear that they could be a burden to their relatives, are even too proud to take advantage of this help. Tragic when you consider that a large number of seniors in need of help reject the support for fear!

In order to combat the financial emergency of the older fellow citizens, extensive regulations of the federal and state governments are necessary. It remains to be seen how those responsible will react to this worrying increase in poverty in old age!