Hi all! The situation is so. My German spouse, who is a voluntary member of the Krankenkasse, has been paying into a private pension scheme on a monthly basis since 1989. This pension is now due to be paid out, but we are wondering what would be the better choice: a monthly pension payout or to take the whole amount as a lump sum. Specifically, how a lump sum would affect how much tax and/or health insurance contributions would have to be paid. The insurance company has informed us that in the case of a lump sum, they would not inform the Finanzamt. Can we presume then that the Krankenkasse would also not be informed and so a lump sum payout would not be taken into account when calculating the health insurance contributions. By the way, just in case it makes a difference, I am also receiving a German pension, but am compulsorily (pflicht) insured with the Krankenkasse.
Any help or advice would be so much appreciated.