Voluntary additional contributions
Members of the Sächsische Ärzteversorgung may make voluntary additional contributions to increase their pension entitlements. However, these contributions – when added to the compulsory contributions – must not exceed the personal contribution limit or the general annual maximum contribution. This is set at EUR 47,151.00 for the year 2026. Voluntary additional payments must be received in the contribution account by 31 December of the current calendar year and are treated in the same way as compulsory contributions for pension purposes.
Important: To ensure that payments are correctly allocated, the reference for the bank transfer should include the membership number and a note stating 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 circumstances would allow for higher contributions at this stage of life. The reason lies in the age-independent conversion of contributions into pension benefits and the associated personal contribution limit (SÄV Articles of Association). However, the amount of this limit can be influenced by making voluntary additional payments.
Conclusion: Mark your calendar! In the calendar year following your 50th birthday and for the subsequent four years, members can influence the level of their personal contribution limit through flexible additional payments. It is best to discuss the specific options available in your individual situation with our staff.
Special feature: open funding plan
The SÄV is funded under the open funding plan. A key feature of this system is age-independent pension accrual: all contributions paid into 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.
Contributions from age 50: higher contribution efficiency
However, age-independent pension provision also means that contributions paid shortly before retirement (after the age of 50) have a higher contribution efficiency due to the nature of the system. The resulting ‘gap’ is normally closed through pay-as-you-go contributions. However, to protect the solidarity-based community from a disproportionate additional burden, a personal contribution limit has been introduced for the period from the end of the calendar year following the age of 55.
Determining the personal contribution limit
The statutory parameters used to determine the personal contribution limit are the contributions paid and the general annual maximum contribution for the last five calendar years prior to reaching the age of 56. The personal contribution limit may be increased through additional voluntary contributions.
No limit based on other contributions
Mandatory contributions arising from employment, fixed contributions such as the minimum contribution or half the minimum contribution, and contributions arising from the receipt of income in lieu of earnings are not subject to the personal contribution limit under the Articles of Association 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 personal contribution limit applies starting January 1 of the calendar year following your 55th birthday. 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.