What if... - Fresenius Benefits

Prepared for everything

Both professionally and personally, life can take you in different directions - sometimes planned, sometimes not. This can also affect your direct insurance pension.

Family

Parental leave

The principle is simple: As long as you receive a Fresenius salary, you will receive the basic amount and the Fresenius supplementary contribution. You can also convert your own contributions from salary components. Of course, you are also entitled to the full contribution amount during maternity leave. No contributions are made by Fresenius during periods in which no employment salary is paid. The basic amount is reduced proportionately and under some circumstances the Fresenius supplementary contribution may be stopped entirely.

You can pay your own contributions to direct insurance during parental leave. The tax and social security benefits of the company pension scheme no longer apply. Alternatively, you can apply for a temporary switch to paid-up mode. Or, if your absence does not last a full year, you can cover the contribution gaps with other available salary components. Please feel free to contact us at an early stage so that we can examine the various options.

Bear in mind that parental leave has a significant impact on both your statutory pension and your company pension. So, plan in advance how you will cover any gaps together with your partner.

Part-time employment

The level of the basic amount and the Fresenius supplementary contribution depend on your regular working hours. If your working time is reduced, the premium payments are adjusted to your part-time equivalent. The reduction in working hours therefore also has a significant impact on your statutory pension and company pension benefits. So, plan in advance. We also suggest that if you have a spouse/partner, you should discuss how you will cover any gaps together.

Divorce

Divorce can also affect your company pension. The law provides for pension equalisation in this instance. Essentially the other spouse is entitled to half of the pension entitlements accumulated during the marriage. The employer is obliged to provide the family court with information about existing pension entitlements.

You

Going into retirement

You have the flexibility to request payment from direct insurance between the ages of 62 and 75. Please contact the Insurance department to clarify what payment date is suitable for you and which payment option you wish to choose.

Illness

The principle is simple: As long as you receive a Fresenius salary, you will receive Fresenius direct insurance contributions and you can make your own contributions from salary components. So long as you receive continued payment of salary in the event of illness, nothing changes.

The basic amount is reduced proportionately for the period without continued payment of salary and under some circumstances the Fresenius supplementary contribution may be stopped entirely. You may not pay contributions into direct insurance from any sickness benefit that you receive from health insurance once salary payments cease. If your absence does not last a full year, you can cover the contribution gaps with other available salary components. You can also switch to paid-up mode for direct insurance or continue with private contributions. If you pay private contributions, the tax and social security benefits of the company pension scheme no longer apply. Feel free to contact the Insurance department at an early stage so that we can examine your options.

Death before retirement

If you die before retirement, your survivors receive the payments to which you would have been entitled as a pension at this point. These take the form of lifelong pension payments, with a time limit applying for children.

The member(s) of your family entitled to these benefits is/are defined by law. In married couples, it is the partner. The same applies to people in a registered civil partnership. If this does not apply to you, children for whom child benefit payments are made are entitled to benefits. If there are no eligible children, your partner can also be considered. However, this person must be named by you in advance.

Death after retirement

If you choose to receive a lifelong pension, the pension guarantee period is 10 years. For the period after the start of the pension, your survivors will receive the outstanding amount as a lifelong pension, with a time limit for children.

The member(s) of your family entitled to these benefits is/are defined by law. In married couples, it is the partner. The same applies to people in a registered civil partnership. If this does not apply to you, children for whom child benefit payments are made are entitled to benefits. If there are no eligible children, your partner can also be considered. However, this person must be named by you in advance.

Occupational incapacity

If the agreed premium payment cannot be maintained during a period of occupational incapacity, you can switch to paid-up mode for direct insurance. This means that no further contributions are paid, and the pension benefits accrued up to this point are paid out at retirement. Alternatively, when you take out insurance, you can opt for additional coverage for exemption from premiums in the event of occupational incapacity. This ensures that the regular pension is paid out upon retirement, even though no more contributions are paid. Learn more

Fresenius

Change of job

When you leave Fresenius, you are immediately entitled to the benefits from your paid contributions. However, these benefits are only paid out after retirement. You can either continue direct insurance privately after changing jobs - whereupon company pension tax and social security benefits no longer apply - or switch to paid-up mode. If your new employer agrees, you can also transfer the direct insurance to your new employer.

Insolvency

Your pension benefits are secure - even in the unlikely event that Fresenius becomes insolvent. In this case, insurance can be switched to paid-up mode or continued through private contributions, your benefits from the contributions made are paid out as usual upon retirement. Continuation through a new employer is also possible if the new employer agrees.

In the event that the insurer becomes insolvent, the protection scheme of the German life insurer Protektor Lebensversicherungs-AG is responsible for the benefits as the safety net company.

Your pension at Fresenius