Germany expands senior minijob options and pilots AI aid for benefit claims

Germany has removed earnings caps for retirees receiving an old‑age pension, allowing unlimited additional income without pension reductions. Minijob earnings limits are linked to the minimum wage and will rise to €603 per month in 2026 and €633 in 2027, supporting part‑time work such as reception, office assistance, retail, tutoring, transport, and museum duties.

In Berlin, the CityLAB together with Google.org has developed an open‑source AI‑driven assistant to simplify applications for basic social security benefits. The tool checks eligibility, extracts data from photographed documents and guides users via a chatbot, cutting error rates in initial applications from about 90 % to roughly 50 %. A public demo is scheduled for 7 July 2026, with code hand‑over on 10 July.

Both initiatives aim to increase employment opportunities for seniors and reduce bureaucratic hurdles in Germany’s welfare system.