Important changes for GDR victims: higher pensions and new justice!

Important changes for GDR victims: higher pensions and new justice!

Berlin, Deutschland - On July 1, 2025, the "sixth law to improve rehabilitation law regulations for victims of political persecution in the former GDR" comes into force. The aim of the law is to improve the social situation of those affected, simplify the procedures and to close existing gaps in justice. This reports berlin.de .

As early as September 2024, the federal government presented the draft of the law to the German Bundestag. After a critical hearing in November 2024 and comprehensive negotiations among the MPs of the SPD, CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and FDP, the extended law was decided on January 30, 2025. The statutory new regulation concerns several laws, including the criminal law rehabilitation law (Strrehag) and the administrative law rehabilitation law (VWReHAG), explains Bundesag.de .

essential changes

One of the most important innovations is the increase in the SED victim of 330 euros to 400 euros from July 2025. This increase corresponds to an increase by 21 percent. From 2026, the victim pension will then be adapted to pension development annually, which eliminates the coupling to the need and the sacrificial pension becomes an honorary pension. Relatives of those affected are also informed about possible claims, according to the press text of berlin.de .

In addition, the compensation services for professional and persecuted students increase: the sums are increased from 240 and 180 euros to 291 euros and also adapted to pension development. Here, too, the consideration of the partner income in the need for needs is dispensed with, and the persecution period to obtain a claim is shortened from three to two years.

Advanced support for those affected

In order to facilitate the recognition of health damage caused by persecution, a criteria -based presumption is introduced. The legislator assumes a causal connection between certain events and damage to health. In addition, a nationwide hardship fund is set up, which supports economically in need, in the "Foundation for former politically persecuted". The corresponding guidelines are currently in progress.

Another important point of the new law is the closure of gaps in justice. Those affected by compulsory exposure are entitled to a one -off service of 7,500 euros, and people outside the GDR, which were damaged by the decomposition measures of state security, now fall under the administrative law rehabilitation law (VWReHAG). The possibility of making second applications for rejected rehabilitation applications is also clarified, explains Bundesag.de .

The SED victim representative Evelyn Zupke critically commented on the plans of the federal government and described the draft law as inadequate. She emphasizes that the regulations for the recognition of health damage have not been adequately changed and that the demands for more extensive support will continue to exist, so that the draft law goes "not far enough" to adequately support the victims.

The BAB consulting teams are available to those affected for all questions relating to the new regulations. Contact persons can be reached at the email address consulting@aufganchung-berlin.de and by phone at (030) 24 07 92-61.