What are the conditions for a widows'/widowers' pension or orphans' pension?
After the death of her husband, a widow is entitled to a widows' pension, insofar as she has a child or is 45 or older and was married for at least 5 years.
Following the death of his wife, a widower is entitled to a widowers' pension, insofar as and for as long as he has a child under 18.
Under certain circumstances, divorced persons are also entitled to a widows'/widowers' pension after the death or the ex-husband/ex-wife.
The entitlement ends in case of remarriage or entitlement to a higher invalidity or old-agepension.
After the death or their mother or father, orphans are entitled to an orphans' pension, insofar as they are under 18 or for as long as they are in education and are under 25. Special regulations apply for stepchildren and foster-children.
More details:
Leaflet 3.03 - OASI survivors' pensions
The widows' and widowers' pension amounts to 80% of the corresponding old-age pension.
The amount of the orphans' pension amounts to 40% of the corresponding old-age pension.
Please see the leaflet Important OASI data for current amounts.
The application must be lodged with the compensation office responsible for the deceased person or with the OASI branch office of your place of residence.
The necessary application form is available here:
Application for a survivors' pension
