This retiree’s additional rights have been reduced: “We now have to close the shared flat of our elderly people”

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The retirement community is considered the lifestyle of the future. A few months ago, Erich* (70) and an old friend decided to take this step and started living together.

“I could no longer pay for my apartment on my own in the city of Lucerne, where I had lived for more than ten years,” says Erich. That’s why he was happy when his friend moved in with him in 2023: “Not only did he get half the rent, but he also brought welcome friends.”

But now the shared apartment of the elderly has become history again. Not because the two are annoying each other, but because they have significantly less income since this year: as of January 1, 2024, like many AHV pensioners, their supplementary benefit (EL) has also been drastically cut.

So far they have been given 1,325 francs each for housing. This enabled them to purchase a four-room apartment together, which cost around 2,500 francs per month, excluding additional expenses.

“Of course there is little incentive to share a flat.”

With the EL revision that took effect at the beginning of the year, incentives for establishing retirement communities were significantly reduced. EL buyers who do not live alone will now receive only 842.50 francs in the city of Lucerne. For two pensioners sharing an apartment, this comes to a total of 1,685 francs. “We can’t afford our current apartment anymore,” says Erich. Moving into a three-room apartment is also difficult: “For 1,600 francs you won’t find anything suitable for living together in a shared apartment in Lucerne.”

Erich’s roommate therefore decided to look for his own apartment again. Because if two EL recipients live alone, they will now receive 1,420 francs per person instead of 842.50 francs. “Of course there is little incentive to share a flat.”

The Federal Social Insurance Office defends itself against this criticism as follows: “With the amendment, rent ceilings are separated from marital status. Married couples, cohabiting couples or two-person shared flats are now on equal footing when it comes to taking rent into account in the EL calculation.” The idea behind this is that the savings resulting from living together are taken into greater account when it comes to additional benefits.

Erich cannot understand this: “If we both live alone again, the state cannot save anything.”

Source :Blick