Gleitender Übergang in die Rente durch Flexibilisierung der Teilrente (Gradual Transition to Retirement with Flexible Partial Retirement)

Against the background of the increasing legal retirement age, broader opportunities for a smooth transition to retirement are often demanded for elderly workers who are disinclined or unable to continue working full-time. This study compares different options for a transition to retirement. It becomes evident that from an insurant’s point of view, the far more popular option for early retirement called 'Altersteilzeit' has no significant advantages in comparison to the barely known partial retirement (Teilrente). The biggest disadvantages of partial retirement are the three fixed pension levels (Teilrentenstufen) and the intricate calculation of supplementary income limits. Abolishing fixed pension levels might make partial retirement and earning supplementary income significantly more attractive, possibly superseding the Altersteilzeit option. Our proposed flexible partial retirement (flexible Teilrente) is compared to the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affair’s proposition called 'Kombirente.'