Five pension myths expose: what you need to know about old -age provision!

Five pension myths expose: what you need to know about old -age provision!

Österreich - The discussion about the Austrian pension system is currently being influenced by numerous myths. On July 17, 2025, the Vorarlberg Chamber of Labor will publish a report that exposes five frequent pension myths and tries to dispel the worries of the population regarding pension. This is particularly relevant because median reporting on rising costs and demographic change stirs up.

A central myth is that people are getting older and the system is no longer wearable. According to the Chamber of Labor, life expectancy stagnates temporarily, but it increases in the long term. In addition, reforms such as the pension account and the alignment of the pension age stabilize the expenditure structure of the system. 5min.at emphasizes that a worthy retirement should therefore be a matter of course.

myth and reality

Another widespread myth is: "The state has to shoot more and more money". Pension expenditure increases in absolute numbers due to economic development and inflation, but the proportion of these expenditure in the gross domestic product (GDP) remains constant according to the EU Commission. The most important financial support of the federal government serves the financing of society as a whole and are not to be understood as a sign of a "pension hole".

The idea that pensions are the largest budget item is also refuted. Although a significant part of the budget flows into pension insurance, many other social benefits are also used. Around 74 % of the pension expenses are covered by contributions from the dependent employees. Thus, the state subsidy primarily affects groups with lower contributions, such as self -employed or farmers.

employment rate and retirement provision

Another myth states that the number of employed people sinks. In fact, the employment rate of older workers between the ages of 55 and 64 in 2012 rose to 56.4 % in 2022. This shows that a large number of employees do not leave the pension directly. In addition, the introduction of the sub -pension in January 2026 will further increase the employment rate.

The claim that older people are forced to work longer is relativized by healthy life expectancy. Men have a healthy life expectancy of around 62 years, while women are around 63 years. A higher retirement age could disadvantage health -stressed persons, especially women.

conclusion and outlook

The final statement by the Chamber of Labor confirms the stability, solidarity and financability of the Austrian pension system. In order to prevent undersupply and poverty in old age, targeted improvements are necessary. This includes investments in age -appropriate jobs, a poverty -resistant minimum pension and a better crediting of child -rearing times to stabilize women's pensions.

Additional information and studies on these topics can be found on the website of the Social Ministry published in Austria. These offer in -depth insights into the legal framework and for old -age insurance.

For individual pension inquiries, citizens support the Vorarlberg Chamber of Labor, which informs about the challenges and solutions of the pension system.