Of Chrysostom Chufi

Crisis time arrived for more than 1 million freelancers, self -employed and farmers who – the day after tomorrow, Friday 31 January– They must choose their insurance category.

Insurance contributions are increased by 2.7% this year as the inflation of 2024 was closed. Normally by law they should have increased on the basis of the wage index which was not made ready in time. This, of course, favors insured persons because, based on the wage index, insurance contributions should be increased by about 4%.

Based on the 2.7% increase, the main pension insurance classes are now shaped as follows:

  • 1st Class 244.65 € from 238.22 last year
  • 2nd class 293.59 € from 285.87 € last year
  • Class 351.84 € from 342.59 € last year
  • 4th class 422.9 € from 411.78 € last year
  • 5th class 506.78 € from 493.46 € last year
  • 6th class 659.4 € from 642.06 € last year

For young freelancers with up to 5 years of activity there is a special reduced contribution of 156.43 €

The above amounts should also be added 10 € which is the contribution to unemployment.

In addition, the 3 classes of auxiliary insurance (for those who are obliged to pay them) are shaped as follows:

  • 1st Class 45.43 €
  • 2nd class 54.76 €
  • Class 3rd 65.25 €

At the same time the categories of lump sum contributions are changed as follows:

  • 1st Class 30.29 €
  • 2nd class 36.12 €
  • Class 3rd 43.10 €

The choice of insurance category should not be slightly tackled the heart as it is crucial to form the amount of the insured’s pension. All the workers and lawyers with whom SKAI.GR contacted the insured not to choose the first and most cheapest class – to which about 90% is concentrated – but to go as high as their….

To be precise if a target for a pension of € 1000, then at least 3rd category is selected, equivalent to € 470.19/month (351.84 € main pension + 10 € unemployment contribution + 65.25 € auxiliary contribution + 43,10 € Lump levy).

The “persistence” in the cheapest class of € 331 in total, leads to mathematical precision after 30 years of pension insurance that does not exceed € 650. Even for 40 years, the pension of the lower insurance scale will be close to 800 €.

And they warn that this option must be ideally made from the beginning of insurance life and not wait for the insured in the last years of his insurance to “secure” the highest pension

If by Friday, an insured person does not change the insurance class, the system automatically considers that the insured person wants to stay in last year’s category.

In the case of insured persons with a parallel employee and non -employed employment, insurance contributions corresponding to his / her employed employment shall be paid on the basis of his insurable earnings.

If they are higher than the contributions resulting from the chosen insurance category, the obligation to pay contributions from the freelancer is covered. Any amount of a levy more of the obligation resulting from the insurance category is counted and increases the future retirement benefit.

If the paid contributions paid from the employed work are lagging behind the insurance selection, which in the case of parallel employment should be at least the second or in the case of a special insurance category, it should be the first, then the insured is called upon to cover the difference.

Application for the selection of insurance class is done electronically In the e-EFKA by identification through codes Taxis and his AMKA.