End of Sick Pay for High Partial Pension: What Changes from January 2027

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents End of Sick Pay for High Partial Pension: What Changes from January 2027.

Anyone retiring from 2027 onward while continuing to work should pay attention: As of January 1, 2027, statutory sick pay protection will be dropped for a specific group – namely, working retirees drawing a high partial pension.

The partial pension model allows people to receive their old-age pension not in full, but only in part. Those who choose this option can retire earlier and pay less in penalties. This is precisely the logic lawmakers now want to implement more consistently – with a noticeable consequence in case of illness.

What specifically changes from 2027, who is affected, and what you need to know now – the overview.

What changes with sick pay?

According to the Frankfurter Rundschau, sick pay protection for working retirees with a high partial pension will end as of January 1, 2027. Anyone who continues to be employed while simultaneously drawing a high partial pension will no longer be covered by statutory insurance in the event of illness as before.

Unlike regular employees, those affected will then no longer be able to claim sick pay if they are out for an extended period. The exact threshold that counts as a "high partial pension" must be checked with your health insurer or the Deutsche Rentenversicherung – the details beyond the cutoff date are not conclusively broken down in the available reporting.

Who is affected by the reform?

The new regulation targets a clearly defined group: working retirees who draw a high partial pension alongside their employment. Those who are not yet drawing a pension at all, or who only have a low partial pension, are not directly affected by the change.

Two factors specifically determine whether the new rule applies to you: whether you are already retired at all, and whether your partial pension share is high enough. If in doubt, it is worth checking with the pension authority before the deadline draws closer.

Why is the reform coming now?

The background is the partial pension model itself. Those who draw only part of their old-age pension pay fewer penalties when starting early – that is the incentive to step out of working life sooner, without bearing the full pension cut.

With the reform, this incentive is apparently being defined more consistently. Anyone who draws a high partial pension and continues to work should, in future, take greater personal responsibility for protection in case of illness. Exactly what the transitional arrangement looks like cannot be fully derived from the report available so far.

What you should do now

If you are currently working under a partial pension or are planning that step, it is worth taking a close look at your coverage. Check with your health insurer or the Deutsche Rentenversicherung whether and how you are affected by the new regulation – details on the exact threshold and on transitional deadlines beyond the available reporting should be obtained directly from them.