Widow’s or widower’s pension

Widow’s or widower’s pension is for spouses. Unfortunately, we cannot grant any such pension if no marriage was concluded, even in the case of long-term life partnerships. Civil partnership is equated with marriage for these purposes.

The widow’s or widower’s pension generally amounts to 60% of the pension paid before the participant’s death or 60% of the disability pension or retirement pension which would have been paid to the participant. Please take note of the following exceptions: If the surviving spouse was over 20 years younger than the deceased participant, the widow’s or widower’s pension shall be reduced by 5% for each year commenced beyond 20 years of age difference, but by no more than 50% at most. However, after at least five years of marriage, 5% of the widow’s or widower’s pension will be added back to this reduced amount for each further year of marriage commenced until reaching the full amount again. It is important to note that no reduction must be made if the marriage produced a child.

The payment generally amounts to 60% of the entitlement to disability pension or retirement pension. However, if the marriage was concluded after the participant became unable to work or after the commencement of retirement pension payments, the pension will be reduced. If the marriage was concluded after the commencement of retirement pension payments or after the participant became unable to work and the participant dies within 3 years of marriage, entitlement extends to 50% of the widow’s or widower’s pension.

If a new marriage is dissolved or annulled, the widow’s or widower’s pension is reinstated subject to the other prerequisites (however, not until three years later if a settlement had previously been granted by the Pension Fund). Benefit, alimony and other entitlements which arise from dissolved or annulled marriages as well as payments made for the purposes of pension rights adjustment are credited to these widow’s and widower’s pensions.