Germany Pension Commission proposes mandatory pension splitting

The Pension Commission, appointed by the German Federal Government, has proposed recommendations for a comprehensive pension reform. One central concept under consideration is the gradual replacement of the current survivor's pension (widow's and widower's pension) with a mandatory pension splitting model between spouses.

Under this proposed model, pension points earned during a marriage would be automatically and equally distributed between both partners. While the current legal framework under § 46 SGB VI provides for a large survivor's pension—typically 55 percent of the deceased partner's pension—the commission is evaluating whether mandatory splitting would serve as a more effective long-term replacement.