TN 4 (07-96)
GN 01707.010 Overview of the German Social Security System - Introduction
Germany provides old-age, survivors, and disability benefits through three major social
insurance pension systems:
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the Salaried Employees' Pension Insurance administered by the Federal Insurance Institute for Salaried Employees (Bundesversicherungsanstalt
fuer Angestellte — BFA)
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the Wage Earners' Pension Insurance administered by a number of regional insurance institutes (Landesversicherungsanstalt
— LVA) as well as two special agencies — the Seamen's Insurance Fund (Seekasse) and
the Federal Railways Insurance Institute (Bundesbahn-Versicherungsanstalt)
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the Miners' Pension Insurance administered by the Federal Miners' Institute (Bundesknappschaft)
Two special systems provide supplementary benefits for steelworkers (Huettenknappschaftlich-
Zusatzversicherung) and farm owners (Altershilfe fuer Landwirte).