Orphan’s allowance (children who have lost one parent and children who have lost both parents)

Orphan’s allowance (children who have lost one parent and children who have lost both parents)

If a participant dies, the survivors are granted benefits under certain conditions. Entitlement to orphan’s allowance exists for each legitimate, natural or adopted child of a deceased participant. Regarding natural children of male participants, a criterion for entitlement is that the paternity is acknowledged or established by a court decision; regarding adopted children, that the adoption agreement was concluded before occurrence of permanent inability to work and before the age of 67.

Orphan’s allowance is generally paid out until the end of the month in which the orphan turns 18 years old. In the case of further school education or vocational training, entitlement to orphan’s allowance exists until education/training is completed or until the orphan turns 27, whichever comes first. If education/training is interrupted to allow for the completion of voluntary military service, entitlement to orphan’s allowance exists beyond the orphan’s 27th birthday for a period corresponding to the duration thereof, but ceases to exist upon completion of education/training at the latest. If the orphan is not capable of supporting himself or herself due to physical or mental infirmity, the orphan’s allowance is also granted beyond the orphan’s 18th birthday for the duration of this condition, but at most until the orphan’s 27th birthday.

The orphan’s allowance generally amounts to 20% of the entitlement to disability pension or retirement pension for children who have lost one parent and 30% thereof for children who have lost both parents. However, the total survivors’ allowance may not exceed the disability pension or retirement pension plus child allowance.