Pension increase Thailand 2025?

For pensioners in Thailand, the obligation to pay nursing care insurance contributions depends on their residence status. Pension Thailand increase 2025? All information here!

Residence status

• Registered in Germany (resident in Germany): If you remain resident in Germany (at least 6 months and 1 day per year), you are required to have statutory health and long-term care insurance. In 2025, you will pay a long-term care insurance contribution of 3.6% of your pension (4.2% for those without children), which will be deducted automatically. However, there are no long-term care benefits from German long-term care insurance in Thailand, as there is no social security agreement. An expectant insurance policy (approx. 55 euros/month) can reduce contributions, but does not entitle you to benefits during this period.
• Deregistered in Germany (resident in Thailand): If you are permanently resident in Thailand and deregistered in Germany, you are no longer required to have German long-term care insurance. Your pension will be transferred without deductions for health and long-term care insurance. However, you must take out private insurance to cover long-term care costs, as Thailand does not have a comparable long-term care system. Private insurance is often expensive (from approx. 100–200 euros/month) and difficult to obtain, especially for older pensioners.

Note: This information does not constitute tax or legal advice. For binding information, please consult a tax advisor or a qualified lawyer.

Pension increase in 2025

On July 1, 2025, statutory pensions in Germany will increase by 3.74%, based on wage developments in 2024. The pension value will increase from €39.32 to €40.79. The increase applies nationwide and will be paid out automatically, even for pensioners living abroad, such as in Thailand. For a pension of €1,500, this means an increase of approximately €56 gross per month.

Long-term care insurance: changes and disadvantages

The contribution rate for long-term care insurance will increase by 0.2 percentage points to 3.6% (childless persons: 4.2%) on January 1, 2025. However, for pensioners, the increase will not take effect until July 1, 2025, with a retroactive deduction of 1.2 percentage points (6 × 0.2%) for the months of January to June. This will have the following effects:

• Registered in Germany:
  • July 2025: The nursing care contribution is a one-time payment of 4.8% (3.6% + 1.2% retroactively). For a pension of €1,500, this amounts to a deduction of approximately €72 (instead of €51 previously), of which €18 is the back payment. This significantly reduces the pension increase (approximately €56).
  • From August 2025: The regular contribution of 3.6% (approx. $54) will be due, making the pension increase more noticeable (net increase of approx. $53 after nursing care contribution).
  • Disadvantage: The one-time deduction in July acts as a “compulsory interest” because it is calculated on the higher pension. Parents with at least two children under the age of 25 receive reductions (0.25% per child, from the second to the fifth child), which will be reimbursed retroactively from April/May 2025.
• Deregistered in Germany:
  • No nursing care insurance contributions, so the full pension increase of 3.74% (approx. $56 on a $1,500 pension) is retained.
  • Disadvantage: Without German nursing care insurance, there is no entitlement to benefits. Private nursing care insurance in Thailand is expensive and often limited (e.g., age limits). Nursing care costs (e.g., $875/month for 1:1 care in specialized facilities) must be paid privately.

Sample calculation (gross pension €1,500)

• Registered in Germany:
  • July 2025: New pension €1,556, nursing care contribution 4.8% (approx. €74.69), net increase after deductions (including health insurance approx. 10.1%) approx. €30.
  • From August 2025: Care contribution 3.6% (approx. $56.02), net increase approx. $47.
• Deregistered in Germany:
  • New pension €1,556, no nursing care contributions, full increase (€56) remains. Tax liability in Thailand (since 2024) may reduce the net pension.

Conclusion

The pension increase in 2025 will bring a noticeable improvement, but will be offset for pensioners registered in Germany by the increase in nursing care contributions, in particular the retroactive deduction in July. Pensioners living in Thailand who are resident in Germany will continue to pay nursing care contributions without being entitled to benefits, which will reduce the increase. Pensioners who have deregistered will benefit fully from the increase, but will have to arrange private nursing care insurance, which can be costly. Contact the German Pension Insurance (www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de) or an insurance advisor to clarify your situation, especially if you are planning to deregister or take out private insurance in Thailand.

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