Voluntary additional payments
To increase their pension entitlements, members of the Saxon Medical Pension Fund may make voluntary additional contributions. However, these - when added to the mandatory contributions - may not exceed the individual contribution limit or the general annual maximum contribution. This limit is set at EUR 47,151.00 for the year 2026. Voluntary additional payments must be received in the contribution account by December 31 of the current calendar year and are credited toward retirement benefits in the same manner as mandatory contributions.
Important: To ensure that payments are correctly allocated, the member number should be noted in the payment reference of the transfer, along with a note indicating that these are voluntary additional payments.
Personal contribution limit
Many members wonder why the amount of annual contributions is capped in the calendar year following their 55th birthday, even though their financial situation during this phase of life would allow for higher contributions. The reason is that contributions are converted into pension benefits regardless of age, and this is subject to a personal contribution limit (as stipulated in the SÄV bylaws). However, the amount of this limit can be adjusted through voluntary additional payments.
Conclusion: Mark your calendar! In the calendar year following your 50th birthday and the four years thereafter, members can influence the amount of their personal contribution limit through flexible additional payments. It’s best to discuss the specific options available in your individual situation with our staff.
Special feature: open funding plan process
The SÄV is funded through an open funding plan. A distinctive feature of this plan is that pension benefits are not tied to age: all contributions paid to the SÄV over the course of a working life generate the same pension point value, regardless of the age at which the contributions were made, and accrue interest at the same rate.
Premiums of $50 or more: greater value for your money
However, age-independent retirement also means that contributions paid shortly before retirement (after age 50) have a higher contribution efficiency due to the nature of the system. The resulting “gap” is typically closed through pay-as-you-go contributions. However, to protect the solidarity-based community from a disproportionate additional burden, a personal contribution limit was established for the period beginning with the calendar year following the individual’s 55th birthday.
Determining the personal contribution limit
The statutory criteria used to determine the individual contribution limit are the contributions paid and the general annual maximum contribution for the five calendar years preceding the member’s 56th birthday. The individual contribution limit may be increased through additional voluntary contributions.
No restrictions due to other posts
Mandatory contributions from employment, fixed contributions such as the minimum contribution or half the minimum contribution, and contributions based on the receipt of income replacement benefits are not subject to the personal contribution limit under the bylaws of the Saxon Medical Pension Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions About Voluntary Additional Payments & Personal Contribution Limits
No, although voluntary additional payments are possible, they serve to increase your accrued pension entitlement. If you opt for early retirement, you should expect a monthly reduction of 0.4%.
The annual ceiling is either the general annual maximum contribution or your personal contribution limit. The difference between your mandatory contributions and your upper contribution limit represents the maximum amount you can pay in as voluntary additional contributions.
The annual ceiling is the general annual maximum contribution or your personal contribution limit. The difference between your compulsory contributions and your upper contribution limit represents the maximum amount you can pay in as voluntary additional contributions.
The personal contribution limit applies from 1 January of the year in which you turn 55. The total contribution amount from the preceding five years is compared to the sum of the maximum limits (general annual maximum contribution) and gives your personal contribution limit as a percentage. This percentage is then applied annually to the applicable general annual maximum contribution, thereby calculating your personal contribution limit in euros for the year in question.