German Federal Social Court orders €70,000 pension overpayment repayment

The Federal Social Court (Bundessozialgericht) ruled that the son of a deceased man must repay roughly €70,000 that the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) continued to pay out for over two decades after the father's death in 1991. The court held that the son’s repeated use of the funds constituted indirect appropriation, regardless of whether he knew the payments were unlawful.

Separately, the German Pension Insurance warns that many retirees may be entitled to retroactive payments when pension calculations were too low. Errors such as missing insurance periods or incorrect assessments can be challenged through a review request under §44 SGB X, potentially resulting in back payments for up to four years. Affected pensioners are advised to compare their pension notices with their contribution records and file objections or claims within the stipulated deadlines.