Criticism of the pension plan – FPÖ: Mothers are worse off than childless women

At the initiative of the coalition parties, it was decided on Wednesday to make further provisions with fixed terms. This is necessary because there are different ways of interpreting the legal text, argue the ÖVP and the Greens. As early as 1992, the National Council established the gradual harmonization of the standard retirement age for women with that for men in the form of its own federal constitution. Between 2024 and 2033, this will gradually increase from 60 to 65 years.

Women born after June 30, 1968 retired at age 65
The first six-month step to 65 is made for women born between January 1 and June 30, 1964. Thereafter, there are increases every six months for a further six months. Women born after 30 June 1968, just like men, are the first to receive a standard retirement age of 65 years. At the same time, the amendment adjusts the transitional provisions for early retirement pensions (corridorp pensions) accordingly, which is especially beneficial for women born in June and December. There are transitional provisions for partial retirement that has already been agreed.

Rauch: “Constitutional”
When it came to the deadlines for adjusting the retirement age, the government “consciously” opted for an interpretation that benefits women and is constitutional, explains Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). In concrete terms, various laws had to clarify which reference date applies to those born in mid-June or December and retiring on 1 July or 1 January. The cabinet has decided that the focus should be on the birthday and not on the pension – the next six-month step does not yet apply to these women.

Belakovich lacks recognition of the upbringing periods
“Since 1992, the retirement age for women has been adjusted to that for men. However, the current amendment misses something very important, which is to recognize and calculate parenting periods,” Belakowitsch criticized in a broadcast. What she believes is needed is a real pension adjustment and not one-off payments “that do not contribute financially to the future of pensions”. The millions of euros spent on this would not reach the citizen. “Furthermore, it is also pension invaluation that, depending on the day of retirement, the pensions are adjusted differently to inflation.”

NEOS review: “Retirement gift”
At NEOS, the preferential treatment of some women was criticized: “It costs a billion euros” of money for future generations, social spokesman Gerald Loacker was outraged by a “pension gift”. The principle of trust must be met, argued the Green Markus Koza, referring to a possible appeal to the Constitutional Court.

SPÖ misses steps for a fairer pension system
The SPÖ had nothing against setting the deadline, but missed further steps for a fairer pension system. In particular, social spokesman Josef Muchitsch demanded the abolition of the partial payment of the pension adjustment for newcomers. The lower adjustment for those born later in the year is “another pension robbery”. On the part of the FPÖ, Erwin Angerer accused the government of often acting against pensioners (e.g. abolishing the Hackler pension); the pension increase is also much too low given the enormous inflation.

“Politics is not a request concert,” said ÖVP deputy. Bettina Zopf fulfills all these requests. Politicians should always act “in a way that suits the next generations” and that in view of the budgetary possibilities.