Social Security Contributions in Germany

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Anyone who takes a job in Germany that is subject to social security contributions must be properly registered with the social security system by their employer. In addition, the employer is required to pay the corresponding social security contributions.

However, employers do not always fulfill these obligations. In some cases, employees are not registered, or the contributions are not paid. That is why it is important to know how you can verify whether your employer is meeting its legal obligations.

Which social security contributions must the employer pay?

Social security in Germany covers five areas:

• Health insurance: Covers the costs of medical treatment and medications.
• Long-term care insurance: Provides support for people who require long-term care.
• Pension insurance: Provides, among other things, a retirement pension.
• Unemployment insurance: Offers financial support in the event of unemployment.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: Provides protection in the event of workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

The contributions are primarily shared between the employer and the employee. Workers’ compensation insurance is generally paid for solely by the employer.

The employer withholds the employee’s share from the gross salary and remits it, together with the employer’s own share, to the responsible agency.

How can you check your social security coverage?

1. Obtain information from your health insurance provider

Your statutory health insurance provider is generally the agency responsible for collecting your social security contributions.

There, you can verify the following:

• Whether your employer has registered you.
• When your employment was first reported.
• Whether your employment details are correct.
• What information is available regarding contribution payments.

You generally have the right to receive information about your stored social security data. However, it is not always possible to immediately verify that contributions have been paid in full for a single individual.

Important: For a “minijob,” the Minijob-Zentrale is generally responsible.

2. Check Social Security Reports

Your employer must report your employment to Social Security and provide you with a certificate of the reported data.

These certificates are called DEÜV reporting certificates.

In particular, check the following:

• Your name and your insurance number.
• The start date of your employment.
• The reported period of employment.
• The gross wages subject to contributions in wage reports.

Registration must generally take place within six weeks of the start of employment. Additional reporting requirements apply in certain industries.

In addition, employees generally receive an annual report for the previous calendar year. This must generally be submitted by February 15 of the following year.

Please note: A reporting certificate confirms the reported data but does not prove that the contributions were actually paid.

3. Check Your Pension Insurance History

You can request your personal insurance history from the German Pension Insurance. This shows which periods of employment and contributory earnings have been recorded. This allows you to determine whether any periods of employment are missing or if there are any incorrect entries.

You can request your insurance history through the German Pension Insurance.

Current periods of employment may not yet be included, as some data is submitted later.

4. Check your pay stubs

If you are in regular employment subject to social security contributions, your monthly pay stub should show the corresponding employee contributions.

Important: Even if social security contributions are deducted from your pay, this does not automatically mean that your employer has actually remitted them.

What happens if the employer does not pay contributions?

Employers are legally required to pay social security contributions properly.

Violations may result in the following consequences:

• Retroactive payments of outstanding contributions.
• Late payment penalties.
• Audits by the German Pension Insurance.
• Criminal consequences for intentional withholding of contributions.

What are the consequences for employees?

Employees are generally protected by law. If the employer fails to pay contributions, this does not automatically mean that insurance coverage or entitlement to benefits is lost, provided the employment is actually subject to mandatory insurance.

However, failure to report employment may lead to difficulties in determining pension entitlements or applying for social benefits.

What should you do if you haven’t been registered?

If you suspect that your employer hasn’t registered you or isn’t paying contributions, you should:

1. Contact your health insurance provider and ask for a review.
2. Save supporting documents, such as your employment contract, pay stubs, and bank statements.
3. Ask your employer for clarification and, if necessary, demand a correction.
4. Notify the relevant authorities if your suspicion is confirmed or if no clarification is provided.

If you suspect that contributions are being intentionally withheld, you can also contact the Customs Office’s Financial Control Unit for Illegal Employment.

Why is regular monitoring important?

Missing social security registrations may not be noticed until years later, for example, when applying for a pension or unemployment benefits.

Our tip: Check your social security reports regularly and keep your employment records in a safe place. Do not rely solely on your pay stubs.

We’re here to help

Our service and interpreting agency assists Romanian clients with questions regarding social security in Germany.

We help you review your documents, fill out forms, and communicate with health insurance providers, the German Pension Insurance, and other government agencies.

If you suspect that your employer has not properly registered you or is not paying social security contributions, we’re happy to assist you in resolving your issue—reliably and in your language.

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