97. What is automatically paid in Germany if you are in regular salaried employment (fest angestellt)?

Answer options

1. Social insurance
2. Social assistance
3. Child benefit
4. Housing allowance

Explanation

In standard salaried employment, contributions to statutory social insurance (health, long-term care, pension, and unemployment) are automatically withheld from wages; by law the health insurer acts as the collection agency under §§ 28a ff. SGB IV, reflecting parity financing. This Bismarckian insurance architecture (laws of 1883–1889) is anchored in the Basic Law’s social-state principle (Art. 20(1) in conjunction with Art. 28(1) GG) and rests on solidarity and equivalence. Statutory accident insurance is financed almost entirely by employers, whereas social assistance (SGB XII) and housing allowance (WoGG) are tax-funded, means-tested benefits, and child benefit (EStG/BKGG) is a family transfer—none are automatically paid by the employee.