Despite its economic strength, Germany has witnessed a troubling increase in poverty over the past two decades, with one in seven people living below the poverty line. The 2005 social security restructuring and the expansion of the low-wage sector have intensified financial hardships, particularly affecting single-parent households and older individuals. Women, especially, face disproportionate challenges due to lower wages and career interruptions, often for caregiving, leading to inadequate pension contributions and higher poverty rates in old age. Recent inflation has further exacerbated these issues, highlighting the insufficiency of the social security system in supporting vulnerable groups, particularly women, in maintaining an adequate standard of living.