54.4 million Insured individuals as of 31 st December million Pensioners as of 1 st July 2017

Transcription

1 Annual Report

2 54.4 million Insured individuals as of 31 st December million Pensioners as of 1 st July 2017 Dear readers, 1.3 million People entering retirement in million First-time pension claims in million Claims for rehabilitation in was a good year for the statutory pension insurance in Germany. Record employment rates and higher wages allowed contribution income to increase for the tenth year in a row. Given this positive economic development, pensions were raised in mid-2017 by 1.9 percent in Western Germany and by 3.59 percent in Eastern Germany. The contribution rate was lowered by 0.1 percentage points to 18.6 percent in early Furthermore, important reforms were introduced in 2017, such as the pension alignment between Eastern Germany Western Germany and improved invalidity benefits. Additional measures have been planned by the coalition, such as stipulating thresholds for pension levels and contribution rates, better protection of the self-employed or an additional expansion of maternal benefits which, from a statutory pension insurance perspective, should be financed from tax revenues. The institutions of the German Statutory Pension Insurance (in the following referred to as German Pension Insurance) will continue to provide constructive support during this process. On the following pages, we would like to inform you about the latest developments regarding the German Statutory Pension Insurance, our positions and activities in Gabriele Frenzer-Wolf Alexander Gunkel Gundula Roßbach 3 Foreword

3 EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED The German economy continued to experience strong growth in 2017, with positive effects on the job market and the financial development of the of the German Pension Insurance The economic boom in Germany over the number of years has continued to soar. Employment rates reached record highs, unemployment dropped to its lowest levels since German reunification. Taxes and social contributions increased once again, and the federal budget closed with a record surplus. HIGHER EARNINGS The German Pension Insurance also benefited from the positive economic situation. Income increased in 2017 to billion euros, while payments were nearly equal to income at billion euros. Over all, the German Pension Insurance ended the year in 2017 with a slightly positive financial result. CONTRIBUTION INCOME IN billion euros (90.5 %) Compulsory contributions including contributions for part-time employees 13.2 billion euros (5.9 %) Contributions for parental leave 3.3 billion euros (1.5 %) Contributions from the Federal Labour Office for beneficiaries of wagereplacement benefits 2.7 billion euros (1.2 %) Contributions from health insurance for beneficiaries of sick pay and similar benefits 1.5 billion euros (0.7 %) Contributions from long-term care insurance for carers 0.7 billion euros (0.3 %) Voluntary contributions THE RESERVE FUND CONTINUES TO BE WELL ENDOWED The sustainability reserve, a kind of buffer fund for the German Pension Insurance, developed surprisingly well. It continued to fill, increasing by about 1 billion euros by the end of the year to reach 33.4 billion euros. This corresponds to approximately 1.6 months expenditure. PENSION ADJUSTMENT 2017 Due to positive economic development, pension rates were significantly increased, by 1.9 percent in the former West German states and by 3.59 percent in the former East German states. The current pension value, that is, the monthly pension payment for a calendar year with average earnings, amounted to euros in the West for the second half of the year, while the current pension value in the East is euros. As in the previous year, the adjustment rates are significantly different for the West and the East as a result of better salary development in the East. This had positive effects on the net pension level, which increased to 48.2 percent. CONTRIBUTION RATE DECREASES SLIGHTLY As a result of the positive economic development, the contribution rate decreased from 18.7 percent to 18.6 percent as of 1 st January Learn more at: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/finanzen»i am convinced that the stability of our society depends to a large degree on the stability and reliability of our social systems. «Alexander Gunkel Chairman of the Federal Board of Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 4 Economic framework conditions 5 Economic framework conditions

4 BETTER SAFE- GUARDING FOR EMERGENCIES In 2017, benefits for invalidity pensioners were significantly improved. This is another step towards better protection of individuals who rely on the payment of pensions for reduced earning capacity due to health reasons More than 170,000 insured individuals each year receive a pension for reduced earning capacity. The German Pension Insurance has stated clearly in the past that adequate protection, consisting of three pillars, is often not achieved for this specific category of individuals, which can subsequently have an impact on old age. The quota of recipients of an invalidity pension who are additionally dependent on basic provision is currently around 15 percent. This means that the percentage has approximately tripled over the past ten years. Policymakers responded with new regulations for claims to statutory pension insurance and found a solution in the first pillar. WHAT IS CHANGING The first step to improving protection for invalidity pensioners was accomplished with the 2014 pension package: new invalidity pensions were increased as of 1 st July 2014, while the so-called attributable period was increased from 60 to 62 years. This means that when calculating invalidity pensions since then, insurance holders are treated as if they had worked until reaching the age of 62 and paid contributions. By accounting for this notional life career, full invalidity pensions starting on THE NEW ATTRIBUTABLE PERIOD In the future, pensions will be calculated as if individuals eligible for partial disability pensions had worked until the age of 65 (currently: 62). Increase of months to 62 years, 3 months months to 62 years, 6 months 2019 or after 1 st July 2014 increased by an average of 40 euros per month. With the new law for improved protection of invalidity pensioners as of 17 th July 2017, the notional life career will be increased in six additional phases to reach 65 years by This also applies when calculating surviving dependents pensions starting after 31 st December The new phased arrangement increases the average pension amount by 5 euros in the year 2018 and by up to 62 euros in the year The German Pension Insurance will bear the considerable costs of the new arrangement months to 63 years months to 63 years, 6 months months to 64 years months to 64 years, 6 months months to 65 years 2024 In the present coalition agreement and draft bill, the governing parties reached an agreement to make further improvements to the protection of invalidity pensioners. The intention is to increase the attributable period to 65 years sooner than planned, in one phase, and then increase it on a monthly basis up to 67. It remains to be seen how this proposal will be implemented in detail. Learn more at: erwerbsminderungsrente.drv.info»the current improvement in invalidity pensions is an important step towards reducing the risk of poverty associated with a reduction in working capacity.«annelie Buntenbach Alternate Chair of the Federal Board of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 6 Invalidity pension 7 Invalidity pension

5 EMPLOYEES IN THE EAST The conversion values for East German wages are converging. ON THE SAME LEVEL 95.7 % % 95.8 % % 96.5 % % 97.2 % + 7 % 97.9 % % 98.6 % % 99.3 % % 100 % % PENSIONERS IN THE EAST The pension value in the East will be increased in stages until it reaches the same amount as the pension value in the West. 100 % + 0 % The values used for calculating pensions in the East and West are still different. But they are converging: the law regarding the ending of the pension transition eliminates these differences in stages by st July 2024 will be a historical day: 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, pensions in the East and West will be calculated according to the same scale for the first time, and the same will be true for contributions as of By 1 st January 2025, the conversion of earnings in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic will end. On this important date, the unification of Germany will also be reached under pension law. FACTS AND FIGURES The basis for this alignment is the law dated 17 th July 2017: the applicable pension value in the East is currently calculated as a fixed percentage of the pension value in the West. As of 1 st July 2018, this value is 95.8 percent and will increase by 0.7 percentage points each year until reaching the level of the West by 1 st July Additionally, the pension value in the East will be determined each year in a comparative calculation according to the old law applicable before The higher of the two values will be applied. This is the case for 2018, since the pension value for the East, based on wage development, is one cent higher. The contribution assessment ceiling the maximum value up to which income is considered when calculating pension insurance amounts will also be adjusted. In 2018, the contribution assessment ceilings are 6,500 euros (West) and 5,800 euros (East). By 1 st January 2025, these limits will also be unified in stages. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND With the so-called pension transition, the pension system of the former GDR was integrated into the statutory pension insurance system of the Federal Republic of Germany. Due to significant differences in income between the East and the West, different calculation variables were applied for the former East German states. These differences will now successively be eliminated by 1 st January For more on the East-West alignment of pension levels: rentenangleichung.drv.info»the accelerated alignment of pensions in the East and West should be financed from tax revenues by the society as a whole.«gundula Roßbach President of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 8 East-West Alignment 9 East-West Alignment

6 INSURED PERSON S PENSIONS BY AGE GROUP 2017 Relative proportions of ages when entering retirement 2.3 %: 66 years and older 36.7 %: 65 years 5.5 %: 49 years and younger 3.9 %: years 5.4 %: years 2.3 %: 60 years 2.0 %: 61 years 1.9 %: 62 years 34.4 %: 63 years 5.6 %: 64 years PENSIONS MADE TO MEASURE The conditions for entering retirement are going to become more flexible: with flexible pensions, legislature is reacting to the desire of many pensioners to arrange a more flexible transition into retirement More and more pensioners would like to continue their professional lives in a flexible fashion. As a result, the Flexible Pension Act (Flexirentengesetz) entered into force in 2017, a legislative process that was intensively assisted by the German Pension Insurance. This involved a number of changes for pension insurance. THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FLEXIBLE PENSION ACT > Since 1 st July 2017, pensioners receiving early full pensions due to age or pensions due to full earning incapacity are entitled to earn additional 6,300 euros per year. The portion of earnings exceeding this amount will be deducted from pensions at a rate of 40 percent. Individuals who have reached the statutory retirement age can continue to earn additional amounts without restrictions. The goal of the flexible pension is to arrange a more flexible transition into retirement while at the same time making it more attractive to continue working past the regular retirement age. > Previously, pensioners who received early full pensions due to age and still continued to work were exempt from mandatory insurance for their work. In the future, this type of employment will also be subject to mandatory pension insurance until reaching the statutory retirement age. The benefit: these contributions regularly increase pension claims. > Pensions can be increased by voluntary contributions. Anyone who receives an early retirement pension can continue to pay voluntary contributions until reaching the statutory retirement age. > Anyone who receives an early retirement pension before reaching the statutory retirement age must generally accept a reduction of 0.3 percent for every month by which the pension is received earlier. As of 1 st July 2017, these reductions can be fully or partly offset by separate payments starting at the earliest from the age of 50. Previously this was only possible after reaching the age of 55. This change increases security in planning. > Anyone who receives a retirement pension due to age after reaching the statutory retirement age and continues to work will generally be exempt from insurance. Since 2017, this exemption from insurance can also be waived. Anyone who makes use of this option and continues to pay contributions will increase his or her pension as a result. WHO WILL BENEFIT? The Flexible Pension Act is not only advantageous for employees: employers can keep qualified employees in their business for longer. Over the next five years, employers will also be exempt from paying their share of contributions to unemployment insurance. This makes it more attractive for them to employ older employees. More information on flexible pensions: flexirente.drv.info 10 Flexible Pensions 11 Flexible Pensions

7 READY TO GO IN FOUR STAGES INITIAL STAGE Inpatient or full-day outpatient phases in a rehabilitation facility; entry examination; working out individual prevention targets TRAINING STAGE Part-time outpatient phase alongside work in order to reinforce newly learned strategies PERSONAL INITIATIVE PHASE Implementation of learned conduct in daily life based on personal initiative REFRESHER PHASE Refresher event in the rehabilitation facility FULL SPEED AHEAD FIT FOR LIFE The German Pension Insurance helps insured persons to stay fit and maintain their professional capacity in the long-term Frequent pains, psychological impairments, problems with metabolism or respiratory passages are warning signs: since 2017, the German Pension Insurance has been offering prevention as an obligatory service for policyholders who are actively employed and whose ability to work is threatened by initial health impairments. HEALTHY AND ABLE TO WORK THANKS TO PREVENTION With prevention services, the statutory pension insurance system helps employed individuals to take the responsibility for their health into their own hands. Through part-time group services alongside professional work, participants learn to integrate healthy nutrition, exercise, movement and relaxation techniques into their daily lives and develop a healthier lifestyle. This allows them to actively prevent chronic illnesses and other serious health problems. To offer these services close to the homes of the insured, the German Pension Insurance further expanded its network of facilities in 2017 with contractual partners. At these locations, prevention services are offered in the form of multiple modules building on one another. SERVICE FOR COMPANIES Particularly for small and mediumsized companies, the German Pension Insurance has developed the company service across Germany. Consultants support companies in building up health management within their companies, which may also include the prevention services offered by the German Pension Insurance. They also assist in sustainably integrating employees back into work after long periods of illness. At the same time, they provide advice regarding medical rehabilitation and services regarding participation in working life, acting as navigators and guides when services are required from other social insurance agencies, for instance health insurance or accident insurance providers. In 2017, information services and cooperation were reinforced across all providers. Healthy employees perform better and are able to contribute their expertise to operations over a longer period. This is beneficial for everyone involved! Learn more at: praevention.drv.info Children and adolescents can take advantage of rehabilitation services that are now more flexible and personalised to meet their needs Whether asthma, obesity, neurodermatitis or diabetes: chronic illnesses can place a heavy burden on children and adolescents. They negatively impact on free time and daily life at school and can affect quality of life and later ability to work. Rehabilitation in early years can restore or improve the health of children. With the Flexible Pension Act, the statutory pension insurance system has had greater freedom for arrang- REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS For illnesses or disorders, including in the following areas: Respiratory tract Skin Obesity Heart/Circulation Liver/Stomach/Intestines Metabolism (e.g. diabetes mellitus) Locomotor system Allergies Psychosomatics Psychomotor activity Neurology Kidneys/Urinary tract ing the rehabilitation of children and adolescents since The range of services has been expanded to include outpatient services for medical rehabilitation as well as aftercare. The German Pension Insurance has welcomed continued development in this area. Since 2017 it has been engaged in implementing this law. OUTPATIENT SERVICES NOW INCLUDED The German Pension Insurance is now able to provide a more flexible and personalised service to children and adolescents. The expansion to include outpatient services also allows them to remain in a trusted and familiar environment. That could support the therapeutic outcome. If necessary for the success of child rehabilitation, a companion, usually a parent, can also be admitted for the duration of rehabilitation. This particularly applies if the child is less than twelve years old. If it is necessary to involve the family for successful rehabilitation, the child can also be accompanied by multiple family members. Learn more at: kinderreha.drv.info»services for prevention, child rehabilitation and aftercare are now standardised as obligatory services these used to discretionary benefits.«gabriele Frenzer-Wolf Chair of the Federal Convention of Representatives of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 12 Prevention 13 Child and adolescent rights

8 Proposals for the ongoing development of retirement pensions: Annelie Buntenbach and Alexander Gunkel. WE NEED A FAIR SOLUTION FOR YOUNG AND OLD Within the coalition agreement, arrangements were made to establish a pension committee which would handle proposals for the ongoing development of the pension system. The committee began its work in June The committee includes Annelie Buntenbach on behalf of the trade unions and Alexander Gunkel on behalf of the employers. They are also members of the federal board of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund. Dr Dirk von der Heide, spokesman for the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, spoke with them about the latest developments Part of the pension committee s work is to develop proposals to ensure sufficient protection for individuals while keeping contributions to an affordable level. How do you feel about that? Alexander Gunkel: I think that s important! We have to continually adjust the pension system to the challenges of demographic development. To do so, we need a fair solution for both young and old. The pension system will only be sustainable for the future if we appropriately take into account the interests involved. As members of the pension committee, we will undertake this task and construc- tively participate in developing a solution that is sustainable in the long-term. To combat poverty in old age, the coalition agreement stipulates the introduction of a basic pension. Do you consider that beneficial? Annelie Buntenbach: Combating poverty in old age needs to have a high priority, in my view. This particularly concerns people with a high risk of facing poverty in old age, such as pensioners under partial disability or low-income earners. Tools such as the planned basic pension should not cause welfare benefits and insurance benefits to become mixed, and must be financed from tax revenues. After the extension of child-raising periods, there are plans to recognise the third year of parenting in pensions under particular circumstances in the future. How will this be financed? Alexander Gunkel: Our requirement here is very clear: recognition of parenting is the responsibility of society as a whole, so it should be paid by everyone. This is why we are pleading for the mothers pension I (better recognition of child-raising periods), introduced in 2014, as well as the mothers pension II to be fully financed by taxes. What is the plan for invalidity pensions? Annelie Buntenbach: At the beginning of the year, the benefits for people who rely on being paid an invalidity pension due to health reasons were tangibly improved. The coalition agreement now plans for further improvements. This would provide better protection for recipients of invalidity pensions than previously planned. The risk of poverty in old age would be further reduced for this group of individuals, yet the circumstances would only improve for new retirees, not for those who are already retired. What changes are planned for self-employed individuals and why are they necessary? Alexander Gunkel: The risk for self-employed individuals of relying on basic security benefits is twice as high as for dependent employees. For this reason, better protection is planned for them in the future. According to the coalition agreement, they will be able to choose between protection in the statutory pension insurance scheme and as an opt-out solution other types of provisions. According to the coalition agreement, the minimum reserve for the German Pension Insurance should be increased. Annelie Buntenbach: Correct. Under the law, the German Pension Insurance is currently required to have reserves of at least 0.2 months worth of expenses to provide liquidity in case of unfavourable economic developments. We would welcome the»we have to continually adjust the pension system to the challenges of demographic development.«alexander Gunkel Chair of the Federal Board of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 14 Interview 15 Interview

9 IN NUMBERS Higher pension amounts, a higher retirement age, more insured persons the most important figures of the year at a glance»combating poverty in old age needs to have a high priority, in my view.«annelie Buntenbach Alternate Chair of the Federal Board of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund pension committee to develop its own proposal for how to prevent shortages of liquidity in the future. In fact, this is what the Federal Convention of Representatives urged. For instance, if one were to increase the minimum reserves to 0.4 months worth of expenses, one would retain an additional financial buffer in case the economic development was less favourable than expected over the course of the year. The coalition agreement states that information regarding coverage through the three pillars of old-age pension that is, the statutory, private and occupational pillar should be improved. What might this look like? Alexander Gunkel: We are discussing this matter with representatives of private and occupational pension schemes. We would like to develop a pension information system across all pillars that would provide comparable information to help citizens make an appropriate decision regarding their individual pension plans from all three pillars. This pension information system should help make any need for action apparent early on. And finally, the coalition agreement states that it will increase selfgovernance. Annelie Buntenbach: This is a very important point for us. The selfgovernment should be able to exercise more rights. We appreciate the commitment to increase the role of self-governance in the coalition agreement as emphatically as the project of modernising social elections together with social partners. Alexander Gunkel represents the employer side as the Chairman of the Federal Board of Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund. Annelie Buntenbach represents the insured side as the Alternate Chair. Additionally, they both provide consultation services to the federal government in the Social Security Advisory Council regarding statutory pension insurance. In May 2018, federal minister Hubertus Heil appointed Annelie Buntenbach and Alexander Gunkel as members of the pension committee Reliable Generation Agreement that deals with the development of the old-age insurance system from the year 2025 on. NUMBER OF NEWLY ACCESSED PENSIONS SLIGHTLY DECREASED The number of people newly drawing pensions in 2017 was around 25,000 lower than in 2016, at around 759,000 individuals. One reason for this decrease was the expiration of the pension types old-age pension for women and old-age pension due to unemployment or after partial retirement. These pension types were only available for older insured individuals born in or before There was a slight increase in claims for retirement pension for the especially long-term insured. This pension type can be claimed early without deductions upon reaching 45 insurance years, for individuals born in 1954 no earlier than the age of 63 years, four months. Newly accessed pensions 2017 and 2016 based on pension type 2017 Number 2016 Number Change % Total pensions 1,308,979 1,345, Pensions due to reduced earning capacity 165, , Old-age pensions total 758, , of which old-age pension for miners working underground long-term due to unemployment/partial retirement 1,729 10, for women 5,637 28, for severely disabled persons 53,787 55, for the long-term insured 141, , for the especially long-term insured 236, , regular old-age pension 319, , Pension due to death 384, , % THE REFORM OF INVALIDITY PENSIONS HAS TAKEN EFFECT The average payments for invalidity pensions increased to 716 euros in new pensions claimed during 2017, while this amount was 697 euros in Since 2013, the average payments for invalidity pensions have increased from their starting value of 613 euros by a total of 103 euros, that is, 17 percent. This can be attributed to the reform and pension adjustments. 16 Interview 17 Trends

10 RETIREMENT AGE INCREASING Over the past number of years, the average retirement age at which old-age pensions are claimed for the first time has increased significantly. While the average age was just 62.3 in 2000, it had reached 64.1 by Compared to 2016, the average retirement age remained nearly constant. For men, the retirement age in 2017 was 64.0 years, for women 64.1 years. This increase in retirement age is particularly due to the increase in the statutory retirement age and the expiration of two types of early pensions. In the past, these early pension types could be claimed at the age of 60 in some cases, such as pensions for women or pensions due to unemployment or semi-retirement. THE RETIREMENT AGE IN YEARS + O.1 + O.1 ± O.2 + O.3 + O ± 0 + O.1 - O Total Men Women BENEFITS PROVIDED FOR MEDICAL REHABILITATION 985, , , ,154 1,074, MORE REHABILITATION BENEFITS FROM THE STATUTORY PENSION INSURANCE SCHEME The number of services provided by German Pension Insurance for medical rehabilitation increased by around 19 percent over the last ten years. While around 900,000 rehabilitation services following severe hospital treatment were provided in 2007, the figures for last year reached 1,074,000. This increase is primarily due to demographic developments: the baby boomer generation is reaching an age where rehabilitation services are more often required (45 plus). PENSION BENEFIT PAYMENTS INCREASING Many new pensioners have had more years of paying contributions into their pension account due to the increased retirement age, and some of them have earned more. Pensioners are also benefitting from significant pension increases in recent years. Pension benefit payments 2017 and 2016 by pension type groups 2017 euros 2016 euros Change % Ø Pensions overall of which 1) Insured person s pensions overall Invalidity pensions Old-age pensions Ø Pension payments for invalidity pensions Ø Pension payments for old-age pensions overall Ø Pension payments for pensions due to death AVERAGE REHABILITATION AGE INCREASED The average age of recipients of inpatient and outpatient services for medical rehabilitation increased by 1.7 years, primarily due to demographic developments since Rehabilitation services 2017 Total West and foreign East years 48.0 years 48.5 years 49.9 years 51.6 years Men Women Men Women Medical rehabilitation (LMR) 1,074, , ,003 95, ,851 Participation in work life (LTA) 1) 175,950 90,562 51,260 19,072 15,056 Total 1,250, , , , ,907 1) Not including 137,510 conditional LTA due to placement decisions and 152 cases of conditional vehicle assistance for pension insurance years 1) After deduction of the pensioner s contribution for health and care insurance You can find more figures and statistics at statistik-rente.de NUMBER OF INSURED AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH The number of insured persons has reached its all-time high at million. For the seventh time in a row, the number of employees subject to compulsory insurance has increased million million % 18 Trends 19 Trends

11 ONE MILLION MORE Insured and employers chose their representatives in the self-government parliaments for health, accident and pension insurance for the twelfth time at the social elections. Some providers carried out a postal vote, while volunteer applicants for other providers agreed on proposal lists that are considered as appointed without a vote Self-government of the statutory pension insurance institutions is a significant factor for the future development of old-age security in Germany. Committees and parliaments accompany political discussion, provide an impetus for political decision-making and represent an important voice for social insurance within the political discourse. In addition, they make important decisions relating to pensions and are engaged in ensuring up-to-date rehabilitation. Self-government also provides practical assistance: the objection committees review decisions to protect the interests of the insured, while volunteer insurance consultants provide on-site support for pensioners and insured persons. The work of volunteer members in representative committees and advisory boards in self-government parliaments is primarily important for that reason. These individuals are democratically legitimised by social elections and, under the basic principles of democracy, represent the interests of the insured, pensioners and employers when making decisions about the direction taken by the social insurance institutions and when adopting their budgets worth billions euro. Social elections work differently for the various insurance institutions: some elections involve a voting process if there are more candidates on the lists than positions within the self-government. However, if there are as many candidates as positions, elections will be carried out without a voting process. The proposed candidates will be considered as automatically elected in this case. For most pension insurance institutions, elections occur without a voting process. For the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, German Pension Insurance Saarland and the substitute health insurance funds TK, BARMER, DAK-Gesundheit, KKH and hhk, more than 50 million insured persons were called on to cast votes in the social elections. A STRONG MANDATE Overall, 15.3 million insured individuals participated in the postal vote, which is the third-largest voting process in Germany after the federal RESULTS OF THE 2017 SOCIAL ELECTION and European elections. More than a million additional votes cast compared to the last social elections, voter turnout of a solid 30 percent: the outcome of the 2017 social election is as strong mandate for self-government of social security. A PUBLIC TOPIC A significant factor determining the high voter turnout was the informational campaign More Than a Letter. This red envelope was a key element of TV and radio spots, on election posters marking streets across Germany as well as print advertisements. Intensive press work brought media attention to the topic across the country, while more detailed information was offered by the official internet platform sozialwahl.de. This large-scale information campaign made the social elections a public topic. More information about the social elections: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/ selbstverwaltung»self-government gives the statutory pension insurance institutions an independent and strong voice that enables it to pursue the needs of contributors and pensioners.«jens Dirk Wohlfeil Chair of the Federal Convention of Representatives of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund Social insurance provider Eligible voters Votes cast Voter turnout (%) Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund 28,879,512 8,709, German Pension Insurance Saarland 393, , TK 7,408,270 2,400, BARMER 7,369,632 2,232, DAK-Gesundheit 4,748,657 1,349, KKH 1,375, , hkk 399, , Total 50,574,338 15,301, Social elections 21 Social elections

12 TRANSITION COMPLETE New chairs, a new directorate: in 2017, a transition took place in the management boards of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund. Gabriele Frenzer-Wolf, DRV In its inaugural assembly after the social election, the Federal Convention of Representatives appointed Gabriele Frenzer-Wolf as its honorary chair on 12 th October She represents the interests of the insured. Being the deputy chair of the DGB district of Baden Württemberg is her principal occupation billion Total expenses of German Pension Insurance in billion of which pension payments The Directorate of DRV Bund: Brigitte Gross, Gundula Roßbach and Dr Stephan Fasshauer Since 1 st January 2017, Gundula Roßbach has been the new president of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund. Roßbach, a fully trained lawyer, took over the office from Dr Axel Reimann, who retired for reasons of age. At the same time, Brigitte Gross was appointed to the directorate, which is completed by Dr Stephan Fasshauer, who took office after Herbert Schillinger withdrew on 20 th December Jens Dirk Wohlfeil, DRV On 12 th October 2017, Jens Dirk Wohlfeil was also appointed as alternate chair of the Federal Convention of Representatives. Wohlfeil is the managing director for labour, education, social and tariff policy for the German Retail Association (Handelsverband Deutschland, HDE) and represents the employer side at Deutsche Rentenversicherung billion Total income of German Pension Insurance in billion of which income from contributions 22 Staff 23 Hier steht ein Titel JAHRESBERICHT 2017

13 LEGAL INFORMATION Publisher Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund Press and Publicity, Communications Ruhrstraße 2, Berlin Mailing address: Berlin Phone: Fax: Internet: D 2nd edition Image credits Image archive Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund/Stefan Veres (p. 14/p. 16), Image archive Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund/Frank Nürnberger (p. 22 centre), DBG/Sandra Wolf (p. 22 above), Jens Dirk Wohlfeil (p. 22 below) Typeface, layout and infographics ressourcenmangel an der panke GmbH, Berlin Printing Book and offset printing H. Heenemann GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin