Anyone doing a Voluntary Social Year (FSJ), an ecological voluntary year (FÖJ) or the Federal Voluntary Service builds up pension contributions during the service. Many people underestimate this, because the allowance itself looks small. What is paid in, who bears the contributions and how they are calculated can be described clearly using the official figures.
Short answer: In the FSJ, the FÖJ and the Federal Voluntary Service, the employer pays contributions to pension, unemployment, health and long-term care insurance. They are calculated from the allowance and in-kind benefits, and the German pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) names an upper limit of 676 euros per month (status 1 September 2026). The source gives neither a contribution rate nor a minimum amount, so ask the sponsor.
Key points
- Participants are insured in four branches of social insurance, and the employer pays.
- The calculation covers the allowance and in-kind benefits such as meals or accommodation.
- According to the pension insurance the cap is 676 euros per month, which corresponds to eight percent of the contribution assessment ceiling.
- The source does not state a start date for this rule or a contribution rate.
- Service periods count positively on your pension account, for example towards the minimum insurance period.
Who pays the pension contributions in the voluntary service?
According to the press release of the German pension insurance dated 1 September 2026, participants in the FSJ, the FÖJ and the Federal Voluntary Service are insured for pension, unemployment, health and long-term care. The employer pays the contributions. In the Federal Voluntary Service, the host placement covers the total social security contribution, as described in the completion guide of the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs (BAFzA, in German).
How are the contributions calculated?
According to the pension insurance, the contribution base is the allowance paid plus in-kind benefits such as accommodation, meals or work clothing. This sum has an upper limit. The cap of 676 euros equals eight percent of the contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance, which is 8,450 euros per month in 2026.
| Figure | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Upper limit of the base in the voluntary service | 676 euros per month | per DRV, 1 September 2026 |
| Contribution assessment ceiling, general pension insurance | 8,450 euros per month | year 2026 |
| Reference amount (basis for voluntary military service) | 3,955 euros per month | year 2026 |
A worked example
Assumption: the agreed allowance is 300 euros, and the host placement provides meals with an in-kind value of 345 euros. The contribution base is then 645 euros, which lies below the cap. If accommodation worth 285 euros is added, the sum becomes 930 euros, and the base is limited to 676 euros. The announcement does not give a contribution rate, so ask the collection body.
What does the service mean for your later pension?
The German pension insurance states that periods of voluntary service have a positive effect on the pension account, for example when you reach the minimum insurance period of five contribution years. A concrete pension amount cannot be calculated from these figures, because it depends on the duration and level of contributions over your whole working life.
How contributions work during a degree is explained in Pension insurance during studies: duty, exemption and pension points (in German). The rules for voluntary service and studies are not the same, so consider them separately.
Levies and additional costs
According to the completion guide, the host placement pays the total social security contribution, covering the employer and employee shares. The levies U2 and U3 are not reimbursable under the same source. The exact amount of the contribution is available from the responsible collection body of your health insurer. The pension share is not shown separately in the guide, as it forms part of the total contribution.
What applies to voluntary military service?
The pension insurance also covers voluntary military service. For this period, compulsory contributions are credited to the pension account, and the state bears them. The basis is a fictitious income of 80 percent of the reference amount, which in 2026 is 3,955 euros per month. This route differs from voluntary service and should be considered separately.
What to clarify in the agreement
The agreement determines which sum counts for the contribution base. Checking it in advance shows you which amount your pension is based on and where gaps could arise.
- The amount of the allowance and whether it is reduced for fewer weekly hours.
- Whether meals or accommodation are provided and which in-kind value applies.
- From which date payments start and how the service ends.
- Who settles the social insurance and to which collection body the contributions go.
Also ask the sponsor how contributions are reported. Correct reporting matters so that the periods later appear properly on your pension account. Keep copies of all reports and compare them with your agreement once the service has ended.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay pension contributions myself?
According to the pension insurance, the employer pays the contributions. As a participant you therefore do not transfer contributions yourself. Still, check in your agreement how the settlement works.
Does the service certainly raise my later pension?
The source says that the periods have a positive effect on the pension account. A certain increase in euros cannot be derived, because it depends on your entire insurance record.
Where can I see what is on my pension account?
The German pension insurance provides information on your pension account. Have the service periods confirmed there once they are recorded, and keep the certificates from your sponsor.
Does the upper limit also apply to voluntary contributions?
The cap of 676 euros refers to the assessment during the voluntary service. Voluntary contributions, for example for periods after the service, follow separate rules and are reviewed elsewhere.
How to proceed now
- Have the allowance and in-kind benefits stated in writing in your agreement.
- Compare the total with the upper limit of 676 euros per month.
- Ask the sponsor for the contribution rate and the collection body, because the source names neither.
- Keep the certificates and check your pension account after the service.
Related reading
- Volunteering, voluntary service and engagement: the overview for students
- Allowance in the voluntary service: what FSJ and BFD actually pay
- FSJ or Federal Voluntary Service: which one suits you
- Pension insurance during studies: duty, exemption and pension points (in German)
Sources: Voluntary service and voluntary military service: periods count for your pension (in German) (German pension insurance, 1 September 2026), Completion guide for the volunteer agreement, Federal Voluntary Service 2026 (in German) (BAFzA, January 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
