Removal of 2026: Dispute over inflation compensation for seniors

Removal of 2026: Dispute over inflation compensation for seniors

On September 12, 2025, the coalition negotiators announced details on pension adjustment in a press conference. The new regulations concern inflation compensation for pensioners and show themselves in socially staggered increases. Only 2,500 euros receives a complete inflation compensation, while higher pensions only receive a fixed amount of 67.50 euros per month. This affects about 71 percent of retirementists, which corresponds to around 1.65 million people who are fully covered with inflation. The government costs a total of 1.73 billion euros for the adjustment for 2026.

Minister of Social Affairs Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) regretted the lack of mutual mutual solution with the representatives of the pensioners and pointed out the difficult budgetary situation, which limits the previous exchange in their appreciation. ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger described the staggering of the remuneration as fair and announced that the government will be financially relieved, since the lower increase of 1.4 billion euros is obtained for the budget relief. NEOS social spokesman Johannes Gasser demanded that the total pension income should serve as the basis for future adjustments.

Details on pension adjustment

The detailed implementation of the pension adjustment concerns the following points:

• SeniorInnen mit einer Pension bis 2.500 Euro erhalten eine volle Inflationsabgeltung von 2,7 Prozent.
• Ab einer Pension von 2.500 Euro wird ein Fixbetrag von 67,50 Euro gewährt.
• Die durchschnittliche Anpassung der Pensionen liegt bei 2,25 Prozent.

The question of financial security is particularly important for many senior citizens. Schumann emphasized the need to pay attention to people with small and medium -sized pensions. Nevertheless, senior citizens' representatives expressed their displeasure with the compromise, with Birgit Gerstorfer (SPÖ-close) spoke of a "partial success" and warned of possible further protests. Criticism also came from Ingrid Korosec (ÖVP), who found the re -grading of the adaptation inadequate.

Criticism and demands

The current discussion about the pension adjustment is accompanied by various voices. It is pointed out to the need for a decent minimum board, especially for women. Among other things, it is required that low pensions are increased by a higher increase in increase. This discussion is not new and is held annually, whereby the goal is always to compensate for inflation and social justice in the pension system.

There are also concerns about justice within the system. Critics complain that the pension system is increasingly perceived as a "almotine system", which is reinforced by the equations of inflation compensation. Relief should not be done at the expense of the pensioners, as they already have to struggle under the current political and economic framework.

Overall, the whole situation continues to be observed closely, because the influences of the pension adjustments have an important impact on the life situation of many people who are dependent on their pensions.

For further information on the current developments and backgrounds of pension adjustment 2026 see also vienna.at,, ots.at and kleinezeitung.at.