Eligibility for surviving spouse's pension

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s pension, if you meet all of the following requirements:

• Your partner died on or after 1 January 2022.
• You started cohabiting before your partner reached the age of 65.
• You had cohabited for a consecutive period of at least 5 years at the time when your partner died.
• You have a child under the age of 18 with your partner and the child has lived in the same household with you and your partner.

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s starting pension and continuing pension.

If you yourself were married to another person at the time of your partner’s death, or if your partner was married to another person at the time of his or her death, then you are not entitled to surviving spouse’s pension.

Basic or additional amount of the continuing pension?

You are entitled to the basic amount of the continuing pension. If your income is small, you can also get an additional amount to your continuing pension. It is not possible to get only the additional amount.

For how long can you get surviving spouse’s pension?

The surviving spouse’s pension is payable until the youngest child that you have with your deceased partner turns 18. You can be paid surviving spouse’s pension until you turn 65, at the maximum.

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s pension if you were married to your spouse or registered your partnership with your partner before he or she turned 65.

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s starting pension and continuing pension.

Basic or additional amount of the continuing pension?

You are entitled to the basic amount of the continuing pension. The basic amount is paid until the youngest child that you have with your spouse/partner reaches the age of 18, or until you reach the age of 65.

You are also entitled to the basic amount of the continuing pension, if your child with your spouse/partner has reached the age of 18, but you have a child (either yours or your spouse’s/partner’s) under the age of 18 living with you. An additional requirement is that your or your spouse’s/partner’s child was already living with you when your spouse/partner died. The basic amount is paid until the child turns 18 or moves out of your home at an age younger than 18.

If your income is small, you can get an additional amount to the continuing pension. You can be paid an additional amount until you reach the age of 65, even if your child is over 18.

For how long can you get surviving spouse’s pension?

If you were born before 1975

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65, at the maximum.

If you were born in 1975 or later, and your spouse/partner died before 1 January 2022

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65, at the maximum.

If you were born in 1975 or later, and your spouse/partner died on or after 1 January 2022

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension for 10 years or at least until any child living with you turns 18.
• You will, however, no longer be eligible for surviving spouse’s pension after you have reached the age of 65.

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s pension only if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You were at least 50 years old when your spouse/partner died.
• You were under 50 years of age, and your spouse/partner was under 65 when you were married or entered into a registered partnership.
• Your marriage or registered partnership lasted at least 5 years.

You are entitled to surviving spouse’s starting pension and possibly to continuing pension.

Basic or additional amount of the continuing pension?

If your income is small, you can get an additional amount to the continuing pension.  

If the above requirements are met and you have a child (either your own or your spouse’s/partner’s) under the age of 18 living with you, you can also get the basic amount of the continuing pension. An additional requirement is that the child was already living with you when your spouse/partner died. The basic amount is paid until the child turns 18 or moves out of your home at an age younger than 18.

For how long can you get surviving spouse’s pension?

If you were born before 1975

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65, at the maximum.

If you were born in 1975 or later, and your spouse/partner died before 1 January 2022.

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65.

If you were born in 1975 or later, and your spouse/partner died on or after 1 January 2022

• You can get surviving spouse’s pension for 10 years or at least until any child living with you turns 18.
• You will, however, no longer be eligible for surviving spouse’s pension after you have reached the age of 65.