A piggy bank hung with a colorful string of lights
Finance & Law
27.10.2025 Sabrina Ludwig 24330

How to protect your Christmas bonus from garnishment!

If you have financial problems and debts and have already had your wages or salary garnished, you can still look forward to receiving your employer's Christmas bonus. This is because the Christmas bonus is protected from garnishment up to 780 euros.
 

In summary: Protect your Christmas bonus from garnishment

Christmas bonus has been protected against garnishment up to 780 euros since July 2025. Employers pay out the protected amount automatically.

In the case of account seizures, the seizure protection on the P-account must be increased by application. Special payments at the end of the year are also protected if they are paid between November and January.

How high is the garnishment protection for Christmas bonuses?

The regulations are clear: Christmas bonuses are unattachable up to half of the monthly allowance in accordance with section 850c (1) no. 3 ZPO in conjunction with section 850c (4) no. 1 ZPO. Since July 1, 2025, this amount has been a maximum of EUR 780 (section 850c (1) no. 3 ZPO in conjunction with section 850c (4) no. 1 ZPO).

Note tax deductions for Christmas bonuses

You must bear this in mind: Taxes and social security contributions are deducted from the 780 euros.

Automatic payout and garnishment protection - what employers need to do

The employer must determine how much of the Christmas bonus is non-garnishable and transfer it to the employee with the salary. This happens automatically and the employee does not need to worry about anything.

If this does not happen automatically, the person concerned must initiate a clarifying discussion with their employer.

Do you have an account seizure? Then do so:

However, if you have an account attachment, you should urgently increase the amount that cannot be attached to the attachment protection account (P account) by the amount of the Christmas bonus.

Just because you have a P-account does not mean that the garnishment-free Christmas bonus is protected.

"This is because the protected basic amount and other already certified allowances will generally not be enough to secure the extra Christmas bonus," the consumer advice center points out on its website.

For this purpose, the debtor must file a corresponding application with the enforcement court of the place of residence, which is a division of the local court.

Sample letter: Additional release of the Christmas bonus for a P-account

A sample letter (additional release of the Christmas bonus for a P-account) can be easily downloaded from the consumer advice center:

Sample letter: Additional release of the Christmas bonus

When does garnishment protection also apply to special payments?

Important: The special remuneration paid out at the end of the year does not necessarily have to be called Christmas bonus or Christmas gratuity in order to receive the additional attachment protection. It is sufficient if the payment is made in connection with Christmas - i.e. between mid-November and mid-January of the following year.

Tips for those affected - act quickly!

Those affected should take action quickly, as the Christmas bonus is usually paid out with the November salary.

Help and contacts:in

If you have any questions or need assistance, affected employees whose company is a customer of pme Familienservice are welcome to contact the

pme income and budget counseling team
Angelika Heede
(specialist advisor)

Sources:

Consumer advice center

zero Interview Longevity Growing old healthily

to see is Dr. Kati Ernst
Body & Soul
24.09.2025 Isabel Hempel 3408

Growing old healthily: Insights on longevity by Dr. Kati Ernst

Dr. Kati Ernst is one of the leading experts in the field of longevity research with a special focus on nutrition and sports science. She is passionately committed to helping people not only to live longer, but above all to live healthier lives.
In this interview, Kati Ernst explains exactly what longevity means, which scientific advances are currently particularly promising and how lifestyle and social relationships make a decisive contribution to quality of life. She gives valuable personal tips for a fulfilled and long life.

"Lifestyle influences over 80 percent of our longevity"

1. what does "longevity" mean to you and why is it such an important topic in today's world?

Dr. Kati Ernst: Longevity as a trend describes the effort to live as long a healthy life as possible, i.e. to minimize the span between the end of life and the end of a healthy life. Nowadays, many people live with multiple chronic diseases in the last ten years of their lives. The first priority is to prevent these.

And then it's all about postponing the end of a healthy life as far back as possible. This trend is certainly a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought the mega topic of health back into focus worldwide. 

2. which scientific advances do you see as the most promising in longevity research?

Dr. Kati Ernst: As Longevity is about a long, healthy life, it naturally includes an incredible number of areas of research and life. This ranges from findings in the field of nutritional science and sports medicine to pharmacological developments. It is therefore difficult to pick out just one area.

One study that I find particularly exciting is the so-called TAME study from the USA. This study is investigating how the diabetic drug metformin could potentially prolong the lives of non-diabetics. As metformin is no longer patented, it is particularly cheap, and if it could actually help non-diabetics to live longer, that would be a big step forward for broad sections of society. 

3. How do lifestyle and diet influence lifespan and quality of life? Are there any specific habits you would recommend?

Dr. Kati Ernst: Our lifestyle actually determines over 80 percent of our longevity, and thus lifestyle changes should be the focus of any efforts in this area. This primarily involves four areas: nutrition, exercise and movement, recovery and sleep, and emotional health. These four areas are equally important and should all be part of a holistic longevity lifestyle. 

4. can everyone age more healthily?

Dr. Kati Ernst: There's nothing wrong with that at first. Especially as most major lifestyle adjustments do not involve major financial expenditure.

"Social relationships and health are key to happiness"

5 What role do social relationships and communities play in longevity? How can we strengthen these aspects?

Dr. Kati Ernst: A Harvard study spanning eight decades has shown that social relationships and health are the keys to a happy life. Therefore, relationships are a core component of the emotional health pillar, which is a cornerstone of the longevity lifestyle.

Nurturing human interactions should be just as important as adjusting your diet or creating an exercise program. For some people, the focus will be on welcoming new people into their lives, for example by joining a club.

For others, it will be more about deepening existing relationships, for example by meeting colleagues you like outside of working hours. 

6. what is your personal advice for people who are striving for a long and fulfilling life?

Dr. Kati Ernst: I think an important first step is to take some time to think about why you want to have a long and fulfilling life. Thinking intensively about these thoughts gives the whole thing a greater sense of purpose, which helps to implement life adjustments more successfully.

And then, of course, it's about looking at the areas where you have the biggest construction sites. That's where you should start. For some, it will be about making a successful dietary change, for others it will be about integrating sport into their lives in the first place. A third person will finally prioritize their own sleep. Where you start is always very individual.

Lectures, workshops, podcasts that promote our resilience

The Lost in Space?" initiative invites you with openness and curiosity to explore new paths that give us support and direction in these intense times. Because finding solutions requires strength - and is only possible together. 

With inspiring talks, interactive workshops, podcasts and blog articles, we create space to find inner clarity and strength and remain resilient. Join us on an exciting journey to new perspectives and opportunities!