Ryanair is cutting 800,000 seats and cancelling 24 routes in Germany. It blames high airport taxes and fees for the cut. Airports in Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig will remain closed to Ryanair. You'll now pay more to travel by flight. [1]
The German government is asking some small and medium-sized businesses to repay COVID-19 emergency aid. This is triggering backlash and criticism from affected companies. [2]
Winter is here, so is the wintertime. On October 26th, the clocks will go back from 3:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Active Pension: Earn €2,000 a Month Tax-Free
Starting January 1, 2026, Germany plans to introduce the “active pension.” It's a new incentive for retirees who want to keep working.
Under this new scheme, you can earn up to €2,000 per month tax-free (€24,000 per year) while working in retirement.
Paying for pension insurance is optional for you. However, your employer will continue to pay their portion.
You don't have to pay unemployment insurance.
Example Calculation
Suppose you earn €2,000 per month with the active pension. In this case, you’ll get €1,788 net. You paid no taxes and only paid health and long-term care insurance contributions.
A regular employee earning the same amount (€2,000) takes home €1,490. This is approximately €300 less.
Who Can Benefit From an Active Pension?
An active pension applies only if you are employed after reaching your statutory retirement age. It doesn’t matter if you already receive your pension or not.
Freelancers, self-employed people, and civil servants don’t qualify for this benefit.
Why Is the Government Introducing It?
To ease the shortage of skilled workers in Germany.
To reduce the burden on the social security system.
Is an Active Pension Scheme Live?
The active pension scheme still needs approval from the Bundestag. However, it’s expected to start from January 1, 2026.
The German Bundestag has passed the “Bau-Turbo” law to speed up housing approvals and fight the ongoing housing shortage.
Under the new rules,
Building permits must be approved within three months,
Municipalities will get more flexibility to simplify local planning.
Towns can skip detailed land-use plans.
Relax noise protection rules to speed up construction.
The "Bau-Turbo" rules are temporary. They are proposed to last until 2030.
The Bau-Turbo law still needs the Bundesrat’s approval before it becomes law.
It’s part of the government’s effort to make building in Germany faster, cheaper, and more efficient.
Bürgergeld Reform
As of mid-October 2025, the German government has finalized the Bürgergeld reform. It'll be replaced in 2026 by a stricter welfare program called Neue Grundsicherung (New Basic Security).
Here is what the new reform proposes.
The reform increases sanctions for recipients who miss Jobcenter appointments or refuse suitable work. The first missed meeting will reduce benefits by 30%. Repeated infractions can lead to full suspension.
Asset protections will be tightened, forcing beneficiaries to use savings sooner.
Housing support would be capped. Rent costs can only be covered up to 1.5× the local maximum allowable rent.
Early budget estimates suggest the reform will save less than €100 million. It's far below Chancellor Merz’s initial target of €5 billion.
Critics from the Greens and the Left call the changes “inhumane.” On the other hand, the government frames them as a return to “responsibility and reciprocity” in welfare policy.
Reviews mean everything for online platforms, and GermanPedia is no different.
You can help us compete in Google search by leaving reviews on Google. These really (yes, really) help and are a vital part of Google's discovery and recommendation algorithms.
So, if you find what we are doing helpful, please leave a simple star rating or a short review on Google. This will help more users discover GermanPedia.
Germany’s Chancellor is hosting an auto summit to address the crisis in the German car industry. German auto manufacturers are cutting jobs and delaying investments. The government aims to secure the sector’s future amid challenges such as EU emissions rules, the EV transition, and competition from China. [1]
Several Berlin Kita have recently closed due to a steep drop in the number of children. The city’s Education Senate attributes this to Berlin’s declining birthrate. Officials warn that further closures may follow. [2]
German students are falling behind in science and math compared to their peers internationally, and the trend has worsened over recent years. Education officials warn that this lag could hurt Germany’s future competitiveness in technology and innovation. [3]
Community Shoutouts! 📣
SIM24* is offering a 20GB mobile data plan for 4.99€ per month.
C24* is offering a 75€ bonus for opening a new account. You must also transfer your existing checking account using the CHECK24 account switching service.
Perplexity is offering a 12-month Pro subscription for free. You can sign up here.
Google Gemini is offering a 12-month free Pro subscription to students. You can get it here.
Join our Facebook community. Ask questions, share experiences, join webinars, and stay updated about your rights, laws, and latest changes in real time.
The information provided here is based on our own experience and in-depth research. The content might be inaccurate. It should not be considered financial, insurance, tax, legal, or any kind of advice.
We are not certified brokers or consultants. Always do your research and contact certified professionals before making any decision. GermanPedia disclaims any and all liability for damages or losses arising from the use of this document.
We finance our extensive work via affiliate links. Thus, some or all of the links in the post might be affiliate links.
We get money if you click on such a link or conclude a contract with the provider without costing you a cent extra.
Investment involves risk of losing money.
All links marked with the "*" are affiliate links.
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your personal referral link: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE] Important changes Several dog snacks from Dog’s Nature GmbH are being recalled due to Salmonella contamination. Kaufland and Norma sell these dog snacks. If you bought one recently, you can return it even without a receipt. [1] Germany reintroduced the EV subsidy. If your family income is less than 90,000€ and you have children, you are eligible for a...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your personal referral link: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE] Important changes European wholesale gas prices jumped about 20% within a week. This is due to cold weather, rapidly declining storage levels, and new geopolitical risks around Iran and global LNG flows. You may expect a big heating bill if the prices continue to rise. [1] Public health insurance companies announced the premium increases on 23 Dec...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your personal referral link: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE] Important changes Public health insurance companies announced the premium increases on 23 Dec 2025. We have updated our guide and listed the premiums each public insurer will charge in 2026 here. You can also use our calculator to check your 2026 costs and the savings potential by switching to a more affordable provider. More on it later. We summarized...
