DRÜ: New obligations for insurance intermediaries under the microscope!

DRÜ: New obligations for insurance intermediaries under the microscope!

The Digital Pension Overview (DRÜ) has been in regular operation since January 2024 and represents a significant innovation in the information landscape for pension provision. The aim of the law on the nationwide digital pension overview is to bundle information on pension provision and to improve the information situation for statutory, company and private pension provision. This was particularly necessary because previous information was often difficult to compare and understand. Users appreciate the trustworthiness and understandability of the DRÜ information, which is now used by around 3.1 million people.

The DRÜ, operated by the Central Office for Digital Pension Overview (ZfDR) on behalf of the German Pension Insurance Federation (DRV Bund), requires that pension institutions with over 1,000 claims register and set up the necessary interfaces. All providers of retirement provision products are now listed in the overview, which provides a comprehensive overview of individual requirements.

Obligations of intermediaries

A report from the law firm Wirth-Rechtsanwälte examines the obligations of brokers and intermediaries in relation to the DRÜ. The most important questions are:

• Ob Vermittler verpflichtet sind, die DRÜ-Daten in ihre Beratung einzubeziehen.
• Ob sie die DRÜ-Daten aktiv abrufen müssen oder ob sie sich auf Kundenangaben verlassen können.
• Welche Dokumentationspflichten im Beratungsprotokoll bezüglich der DRÜ bestehen.

The report comes to the conclusion that the DRÜ is an indispensable instrument for objectively determining the needs of old-age provision insurance. According to Section 61 VVG, insurance brokers are obliged to take the DRÜ data into account, while this obligation applies to insurance agents in exceptional cases. Using the DRÜ creates a reliable basis for advice and can minimize liability risks.

Support for intermediaries

The law that brought the digital pension overview into being also supports intermediaries in fulfilling their legal obligations, especially in complex pension situations. In order to prove that individual needs have been assessed, the consultation documentation should contain key findings from the DRÜ.

The DRÜ offers citizens a user-friendly and barrier-free overview. Anyone interested is currently invited to try out the digital pension overview and give valuable feedback. The introduction of this digital solution is a step in the right direction to significantly improve transparency and access to information in the retirement planning sector. Further information is available at Insurance journal and Pension overview.