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).