Inheritance taxes should be increased, according to the VdK chief Bentele, for the purpose of funding pension programs. - Inheritance taxes should be increased, according to VdK chief Bentele, to finance retirement pensions.
In a recent call to action, Verena Bentele, President of the social association VdK, has proposed a new approach to addressing social inequality in old age in Germany. Bentele, who is also the leader of the VdK, has suggested implementing higher inheritance taxes as a means to fund pensions and alleviate poverty among the elderly.
The proposal comes amidst ongoing discussions about taxation and wealth distribution in Germany. On June 29, 2025, a group of 40 randomly selected German citizens presented recommendations for a fairer tax policy. Among their suggestions was an inheritance tax that kicks in earlier for heirs of large estates and companies, as well as a one-off levy of 10% on large liquid assets spread over ten years. Although this proposal does not specifically target funding pensions or alleviating poverty in old age, it does aim to address wealth inequality.
Bentele's call for higher inheritance taxes to fund the welfare state is not a new idea. The German Institute for Economic Research has previously proposed a solidarity tax on pensions and old-age incomes for the baby boomer generation. However, Bentele has rejected this proposal for a pension solidarity tax on pensions and old-age incomes above a certain threshold.
According to Bentele, people with low pensions often have a lower life expectancy than the wealthy. This stark disparity highlights the need for a more equitable distribution of resources in old age. Bentele believes that mechanisms like the basic pension or care credits are not sufficient to effectively cushion social inequality in old age.
The German government has also recently introduced a draft bill aimed at stimulating economic growth. While this bill includes various tax measures, such as reducing corporation tax rates and expanding research allowances, it does not specifically address inheritance taxes or directly target the super-rich to fund pensions or alleviate poverty.
Bentele's proposal for higher inheritance taxes to fund pensions and alleviate poverty in old age is gaining traction. The call for a fair contribution from the super-rich through smart, fair, and solidarity-based taxes on wealth and inheritances is being seen as a potential solution to address the growing issue of social inequality in old age.
This article was published in Augsburger Allgemeine, shedding light on the ongoing debate surrounding taxation and wealth distribution in Germany. As the discussion continues, it remains to be seen how the German government will respond to Bentele's call for action.
- The ongoing debate in Germany's general-news sphere, following the proposal by Verena Bentele, involves discussions about implementing a fairer tax policy that includes a higher inheritance tax to fund pensions and alleviate poverty among the elderly.
- The call for higher inheritance taxes to address wealth inequality in the business and politics spheres, as suggested by Bentele, may have significant implications for the community policy and vocational training sectors, as the resources generated could potentially be used to broaden access to re-skilling and education programs for the elderly.
