Brochure on Bereavement Pension: Your comprehensive guide to financial security in the event of bereavement
19 Jun 2025
8
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
The loss of a loved one is emotionally distressing. Additionally, financial worries often arise. This brochure on survivor's pension provides you with ways to ensure security.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The survivor's pension (e.g., widow's pension, orphan's pension) must be applied for with the German Pension Insurance and is paid retroactively for up to twelve months.
A distinction is made between the small widow's pension (25 percent) and the large widow's pension (55 percent or 60 percent), with entitlement depending on age, child-rearing, or reduced earning capacity.
Personal income exceeding an allowance (e.g., €1,038.05 from July 2024) will be counted towards the survivors' pension at 40 percent.
Understanding Survivor’s Pension: The Basics for Emergencies
Survivor pensions are a benefit of the statutory pension insurance in Germany. They aim to compensate for the financial loss due to the death of an insured individual. Eligible claimants can include spouses, registered civil partners, children, and potentially divorced spouses. A key requirement is often that the deceased must have fulfilled a minimum insurance period of five years. This waiting period may be waived if the death occurred due to a work accident. Generally, the marriage must have lasted at least one year to establish an entitlement to a widow's or widower's pension, although exceptions to this rule apply in cases of accidental death. There are three main types: widow's or widower's pension, orphan's pension, and parental pension. Each type of pension has specific requirements and calculation bases that we will discuss in more detail below. For an initial assessment of your situation, consultation on pension insurance might be advisable.
The Variety of Survivor's Pensions: An In-Depth Look
Widow's and Widower's Pensions: Explained Small and Large Pensions
The widow's or widower's pension is the most common form of survivor's pension. A distinction is made between the small and the large widow's/widower's pension. The small widow's/widower's pension amounts to 25 percent of the deceased's pension. Under the new law, it is paid for a maximum of 24 months if the marriage was entered into after 2001 or both partners were born after January 1, 1962. If old law applies (marriage before 2002 and one partner born before January 2, 1962), it can be paid indefinitely.
The large widow's/widower's pension amounts to 55 percent (new law) or 60 percent (old law) of the deceased's pension. Entitlement exists if the surviving partner reaches certain age limits (e.g., 46 years and four months in 2025, rising to 47 years by 2029), is incapacitated or is raising a minor or disabled child. An important financial support is the so-called "bereavement quarter": In the first three months after the month of death, the deceased's pension is paid in full to the surviving partner without crediting their own income. This is intended to provide initial financial relief during the difficult time following the loss and is an important aspect of family protection.
Orphan's Pension: Support for Children and Young Adults
If a child loses one or both parents, they can receive an orphan's pension. The half-orphan's pension (one parent deceased) is ten percent, the full orphan's pension (both parents deceased) is 20 percent of the deceased parent's pension. Entitlement generally exists until the age of 18. An extension up to a maximum of 27 years is possible if the orphan is in school or vocational training, performing voluntary service, or unable to provide for themselves due to a disability. The protection of children in the event of death is a central concern for many parents.
Education Pension: A Often Overlooked Benefit for Divorcees
The education pension is a lesser-known form of survivor's benefit. It can be granted to divorced spouses who are raising a minor child and whose ex-partner has died. Important conditions include, among others, that the marriage was divorced after June 30, 1977, the surviving partner has not remarried, and they meet the general qualifying period of five years in the pension insurance. The education pension is calculated from the educator's own insurance account and corresponds in amount to a full incapacity pension. Many eligible individuals are unaware of this entitlement, although it can be an important financial support.
Secure your claim and calculate your pension: Your path to benefits
Application: The Right Path to Your Pension
Survivor pensions are not paid automatically, a request to the German Pension Insurance is mandatory. It's advisable to submit the application promptly after the death. The pension insurance can pay benefits retroactively for up to twelve calendar months prior to the application month. Various documents are required for the application, such as the death certificate, marriage certificate, and information about personal income. Careful preparation can shorten the time until payment.
Income Calculation: What Remains of Your Pension
The survivor's personal income can be deducted from the widow's, widower’s, or parental pension. This occurs after the initial grieving period. 40 percent of the net income exceeding a certain allowance are deducted. This allowance, for instance, was 1,038.05 euros as of July 1, 2024 (uniformly across Germany). It increases for each child eligible for an orphan's pension. Deductible income includes earnings, substitute earnings (like unemployment or sick pay), capital gains, and other pensions. For example: if the net income to be considered is 1,500 euros, it exceeds the allowance by 461.95 euros (as of July 2024). Of which, 40 percent (184.78 euros) are deducted from the survivor's pension. The exact calculation can be complex, therefore, an individual assessment is often advisable.
Old versus New Law: Which Regulations Apply to You
For widow and widower pensions, the date of the marriage and the birth dates of the partners play a role in the application of old or new law. The old law applies if the marriage was before January 1, 2002, and at least one partner was born before January 2, 1962. Otherwise, the new law, implemented since 2002, generally applies. The differences mainly affect the amount of the large widow's pension (60 percent under old law, 55 percent under new law) and the period for which the small widow's pension is paid (unlimited under old law, limited to 24 months under new law). This distinction is also relevant for retirement planning.
Expert knowledge and legal intricacies on survivor's pension
Avoid Important Deadlines and Pitfalls
An important regulation concerns short-term marriages. If the marriage lasted less than one year, the pension insurance checks whether a so-called "pension marriage" was primarily entered into for the purpose of pension provision. In such cases, the entitlement may lapse unless the death occurred unexpectedly (e.g., due to an accident). If a widower or widow remarries, the entitlement to the previous survivor's pension ceases. However, there may be an entitlement to a pension settlement as a form of "start-up assistance" for the new marriage. This usually amounts to 24 times the monthly pension for the large widow's pension. Considerations for funeral expense insurance can help cover short-term costs in the event of death.
The following points should be particularly observed when applying and during the benefit period:
Timely application submission to avoid losing benefit months (maximum twelve months retroactively).
Notification of all relevant income for correct calculation of credit.
Information to the pension insurance upon remarriage or entering a new registered civil partnership.
Check whether the requirements for switching from the small to the large widow's pension are met (e.g., reaching the age limit, disability).
Observe the different regulations of old and new laws.
Current Judgments and Their Significance for Those Affected
Case law on the survivor's pension is constantly evolving. A judgment of the Federal Social Court (Case No.: B 5 R 3/23 R) clarified, for example, that tax loss carryforwards do not reduce the income relevant for pension calculation. It is the actually available income that counts. This can lead to reclaiming in individual cases if income has previously been assessed differently. It is therefore important to stay informed about current developments. Preparations for death should also include a review of the current legal situation.
Our Expert Tip: Early Advice and Precautions
The regulations on the survivor's pension are complex and depend on many individual factors. Early and comprehensive information is crucial to be financially secure in an emergency. Clarify your entitlements and take into account possible pension gaps in your personal pension planning. The German Pension Insurance offers free brochures and consultations for this purpose. We at nextsure are also happy to assist you in analysing your situation and finding suitable solutions for your survivor protection. A careful review of the funeral benefit application is also an important step.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive concrete optimization suggestions.
More useful links
Deutsche Rentenversicherung provides comprehensive statistics and reports on statutory pension insurance.
Deutsche Rentenversicherung offers general information on types of pensions and benefits for survivors.
Deutsche Rentenversicherung provides a helpful brochure on survivor pensions as support during difficult times.
Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) informs about survivor pensions within the framework of statutory pension insurance.
Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb) explains the function and significance of survivor pensions in the context of pension policy.
Verbraucherzentrale offers consumer information and advice on various aspects of pension provision.
FAQ
What are the requirements for the survivors' pension?
Basic prerequisites usually include at least a one-year marriage/partnership and the fulfilment of the minimum insurance period (five years) by the deceased. Specific conditions apply to widow's/widower's pensions, orphan's pensions, and parental pensions.
Do I need to apply for the survivors' pension?
Yes, all survivor's pensions must be applied for at the German Pension Insurance. They are not paid automatically.
What is the difference between a small and a large widow's pension?
The small widow's pension amounts to 25 percent of the deceased's pension and is often limited in time. The large widow's pension amounts to 55 percent (or 60 percent under old law) and requires a higher age, child-rearing, or reduced earning capacity.
What is the allowance for income offsetting?
The allowance is adjusted annually. As of the first of July 2024, it amounted to 1,038.05 euros nationwide. Income above this is accounted for at 40 percent.
What happens to the widow's pension upon remarriage?
Upon remarriage, the entitlement to a widow's or widower's pension ceases. However, there may be an entitlement to a one-off pension settlement.
Where can I find a brochure on survivor's pension?
The German Pension Insurance provides free brochures such as "Survivor's Pension: Help in Difficult Times", which offer detailed information.
