The Bavarian Architects' Pension Plan provides pension benefits in old age, in the event of occupational disability and to surviving dependents. For this purpose, it requires certain information from the new member.

The Bavarian Lawyers' and Tax Consultants' Pension Scheme grants pension benefits in old age, in the event of occupational disability and to surviving dependents. For this purpose, it requires certain information from the new member.

If you want to settle in Rhineland-Palatinate as a trader or freelance person or if you want to temporarily work commercially or freelance across national borders in Rhineland-Palatinate, you have the option of contacting the Point of Single Contact (EAP).

The EAP provides information, among other things, on the requirements, procedures and formalities for the commencement and exercise of the activity, for example which notifications, permits or registrations are required. It shall also provide the contact details of the competent authorities. If you wish, he will handle some of the necessary applications and administrative procedures for you with the competent authorities. For this purpose, he transmits all applications and documents to the competent authorities and passes on their decisions and notifications to you.

Both the provision of information and the handling of the procedure by the EAP are largely provided electronically.

The Versorgungswerk der Steuerberater in Hessen (VStBH) is the professional pension institution of the members of the Hessen Chamber of Tax Consultants. Information on membership in the Chamber of Tax Consultants can be found in the corresponding service description.

The pension scheme provides its members and their survivors with the following benefits:

• Old-age pension
• Disability pension
• Survivor's pension (widow's and widower's pension, pension for the surviving partner of a registered partnership, orphan's pension)
• Death grants for survivors
• Lump-sum compensation to the surviving wife or husband in the event of remarriage

Hint: In addition, the pension fund may, upon application, grant subsidies towards the costs of necessary, particularly complex medical rehabilitation measures. However, you are not entitled to it.

The members of the pension scheme must pay a standard monthly contribution as long as they do not receive an old-age pension or an occupational disability pension. This corresponds to half the maximum contribution to the statutory pension insurance. If your income does not reach half the contribution assessment ceiling, you can request that your contribution be calculated according to your earned income. As a minimum, the minimum contribution of 1/10 of the maximum amount to the statutory pension insurance is due. Employed members who are exempt from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance must pay at least the contribution that would have to be paid to the statutory pension insurance.

Most employers pay membership fees directly to the pension fund. If you are in an employment relationship, please provide your employer with your membership number. Inform him of your exemption from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance. If you are not in an employment relationship or if your employer does not pay the contributions directly to the pension fund, you must pay the contributions yourself. A form for issuing a SEPA direct debit mandate can be downloaded from the Internet.

Tip: Further information on the contributions can be found in the articles of association of the pension fund of tax consultants in Hesse on www.vstbh.de under "Legal basis" and under "Service"> "Frequently asked questions".

The Psychotherapeutenversorgungswerk ( PVW ) ( Lower Saxony with Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate) is responsible, among other things, for psychological psychotherapists as well as child and adolescent psychotherapists and child and adolescent psychotherapists in Hesse.

Membership in the PVW begins at the same time as membership in a chamber of psychotherapists in the federal states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Rhineland-Palatinate or Hesse.

The membership documents are automatically sent to each member by the PVW as soon as you are registered as a member by the Chamber. If membership in one of the above-mentioned chambers of psychotherapists ends (e.g. by moving away), membership in the PVW can be continued voluntarily, unless another pension fund is responsible or dual membership is desired. Pension rights are acquired through regular contributions payments. If membership is not continued, the acquired entitlement from membership is nevertheless maintained and is later paid out as an old-age pension. Even the entitlement to an occupational disability pension remains in this case to a certain extent / under certain circumstances.

The PVW provides its members and their surviving dependants with the following benefits:

• Old-age pension from the age of 60 or 62, whether or not in the form of deferred old-age pensions with actuarial supplements up to the age of 70
• Disability pension before the age of 60 or 62
• Survivor's pension (widow's/widower's pension, partner's pension and half-orphan's or full orphan's pension)

The members of the pension scheme must pay regular monthly contributions. Is your gross monthly income as a self-employed person or employee less than the contribution assessment ceiling set in the statutory pension insurance? Then you can pay an "individual income-related contribution". The applicable contribution rate of the statutory pension insurance is decisive.

As an employed psychotherapist, you are compulsorily insured under the statutory pension insurance. If you have nevertheless not been exempted from the obligation to contribute to the pension fund, you can voluntarily make contributions at least the minimum contribution of one tenth if no lower income is proven. Further information can be obtained from the pension fund.

Hint: If you leave the professional chamber, your compulsory membership of the pension scheme does not automatically end. Upon application, you can continue your membership if you are not a compulsory member of another psychotherapist pension scheme or if you wish to become a dual member.

Who has to and who can become a member?

The following are obliged to become members of the pension fund:

• Psychotherapists who
  • after 01.01.2006 are members of the Landespsychotherapeutenkammer Hessen
  • are exclusively self-employed
  • have not yet reached the age of 55

You can also opt for membership:

• Psychotherapists who
  • complete an apprenticeship
  • are employed or civil servants

If you are unable to work, membership in the PVW is excluded.

The EC Services Directive is intended to simplify procedures and formalities throughout Europe.

If you want to do business or work in Germany, the single points of contact will inform you about legal requirements and help you complete administrative procedures quickly and easily online.

If you want to work as a business or professional activity in Germany, the points of single contact will inform you about legal requirements and help you to handle administrative procedures quickly and easily online.