Widow's and Widower's Pensions from Statutory Accident Insurance
Your way to the application
Generally, you do not need to apply for the survivor’s pension. The responsible workers’ compensation association or accident insurance fund will determine your eligibility and the amount of the survivor’s pension on its own initiative. You have the option to initiate the process online.
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Why should I specify a location?
With the help of the location information, we can display the information, forms and services suitable for you and your responsible office.
Which location should I specify?
For example, your place of residence if you want to apply for a passport or the company location if you want to register a business.
- Death Certificate
- Beneficiary’s account number (IBAN and BIC)
- Marriage certificate (family register) or civil partnership certificate
- Social Security number of the beneficiary
- Birth certificates for any children in common, if applicable
Please check with your local workers’ compensation association or accident insurance fund to find out if you need to submit any additional documents and, if so, which ones.
No
Simply explained
In the event of a fatal workplace accident or a fatal occupational disease, statutory workers’ compensation insurance provides financial protection for the surviving dependents.
This means that your employers’ liability insurance association or accident insurance fund can provide you with financial support if your spouse has died as a result of such an insured event. The same applies to domestic partners. No application is necessary.
For the first 3 months after the death, the pension amounts to two-thirds of the annual earnings (JAV), i.e., the deceased person’s income. After that, the pension is generally 30 percent of that amount.
Under certain conditions, the pension may amount to 40 percent of the annual income during the first 3 months if you
- are raising a child,
- are at least 47 years old
- or are unable to work or earn a living.
If you have your own income, the pension may be reduced.
You are generally not entitled to a pension if:
- you entered into marriage or a civil partnership only after the insured event occurred and
- the death occurred within the first year of that marriage or civil partnership.
An exception applies here if it is evident that you did not enter into the marriage or civil partnership primarily to receive the pension.
What requirements must be met?
You are entitled to a widow’s or widower’s survivor’s pension under the following conditions:
-
Death of your spouse or partner as a result of an insured event:
- Work-related accident,
- commuting accident, or
- occupational disease
- You were already living in a legally valid marriage or civil partnership under the Civil Partnership Act prior to this.
You are generally not entitled to benefits if
- you entered into the marriage or civil partnership only after the insured event occurred and
- the death occurred within the first year of that marriage or civil partnership.
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