German pension authority upheld in court over pension offset for retiree in Thailand

A German pensioner who moved to Thailand receives a monthly German state pension of about €560. The German pension insurer deducted €100 each month, claiming the amount owed for outstanding total social‑security contributions. The retiree contested the deduction, arguing that his low income and lack of assets made him unable to pay. The Landessozialgericht Baden‑Württemberg ruled that the deduction could stay because the plaintiff failed to provide evidence of his need for assistance, as required under § 52 SGB I. The court held that the pension offset is permissible when contributions are confirmed as a payable claim, even for beneficiaries living abroad.

The judgment clarifies that expatriate pension recipients must demonstrate their need for aid to avoid deductions, and that the legal threshold for hardship must be met before the protection against pension offset applies.