Speaking on the ARD public broadcaster, Jens Spahn explained that as life expectancy rises, people will need to work longer to maintain the sustainability of the pension system without overburdening future generations.
He noted that the increase will happen gradually over the next 30 years, initially year by year and then month by month. While specific political discussions are not yet planned, Spahn stressed that the public must be informed about the long-term sustainability challenges of the system.
The proposal follows recommendations from a council of economic experts to link the retirement age to life expectancy and reintroduce sustainability factors into pensions.
Since 2012, Germany has been gradually increasing the retirement age from 65 to 67, to be fully implemented by 2031. Early retirement remains possible with reduced benefits, and special provisions apply to long-term insured workers and people with disabilities.
