Survivor's pension, widow's or widower's pension

• What?
• For whom?
• How much?
• How to apply?

What?

A survivor's pension is a pension for the next of kin after a passing.

It does not matter whether the deceased had already retired or not.

We also call it a widow's pension or widower's pension.

For whom?

May be entitled to a survivor's pension:

• the spouse of an employee or civil servant;
• the ex-spouse of a civil servant;
• the orphans of a civil servant.

Self-employed workers can turn to the NISSE.Opens in a new window
 

When will you, as the spouse, receive a survivor's pension?

You have to meet these conditions:

1. at the time of your spouse's death, you have reached the minimum age or you are receiving a retirement pension.
   Did your spouse pass away in 2025? In this case, the minimum age is 50 years.
   Did your spouse pass away in 2026? In this case, the minimum age is 51 years.
   Consult the minimum age for all years.

   or

   you have not reached the minimum age, but you are already receiving a personal pension.

2. you were married for at least one year (or you find yourself in a situation we consider as such).
3. you did not remarry. If you remarry, your survivor’s pension is suspended.
4. you were not convicted for criminal offences against the deceased spouse (see article 727, § 1, 1° or 3° of the Civil CodeOpens in a new window).

Important: you meet all conditions save the minimum age? In that case, you qualify for a transitional allowance.

Situations we equate with one year of marriage

Were you married, but not for an entire year? In this case, you may still be entitled to a survivor's pension, if you meet the following conditions:

• you were already legally cohabiting before the marriage. This period of legal cohabitation and the marriage taken together lasted for at least one year and was uninterrupted.
• you or your spouse received child benefits for a dependent child at the time of decease.
• a child was born from the marriage or from the period of legal cohabitation that preceded the marriage.
• you give birth to a child within 300 days after your spouse's passing.
• you were married at the time of the decease and the decease was caused by an accident or occupational disease which took place after the marriage date.
   

Only in the case of a civil servant: temporary survivor's pension

You were not married for a complete year and your situation is not equated? In that case, you can be entitled, as the spouse or ex-spouse of a civil servant, to a temporary survivor's pension of 12 months.

The calculation and application are the same as for the regular survivor's pension.

Find out here how to apply for a temporary survivor's pension.

Age conditions for a survivor's pension

In 2025, the minimum age is 50 years.

From 2026, this will be 51 years. 

We currently find ourselves in a transitional period: the minimum age is raised by six months every year:

Important: you are too young but do meet the other conditions? In that case, you qualify for a transitional allowance.
 

Ex-spouse of a civil servant

If you are the ex-spouse of a deceased civil servant and you did not remarry, you can also receive a survivor's pension if you meet the conditions.

Both you, as the ex-spouse, and the current spouse qualify for a survivor's pension at the time of decease? In this case, we divide the survivor's pension up.

Important: if both you and the spouse qualify for a survivor's pension, you have to file your pension application within the year after the passing of the civil servant. If you do not, you lose your entitlement to a survivor's pension.

This division is definitive, which means that the survivor's pension of the surviving spouse is not adapted in the case of a second marriage or the passing of the ex-spouse, for example.
 

When are orphans entitled to a survivor's pension?

Orphans should meet these conditions:

1. the deceased was a civil servant.
2. they are full orphans.
   The fatherless or motherless orphan is equated with a full orphan if:
   • the surviving parent is not entiled to a survivor's pension;
   • his or her parentage has only been established with regard to the deceased parent.
3. they are younger than 18 or they are of age but do not entitle one to child benefits.
4. they were not convicted for criminal offences against the deceased.

In the case of guardianship, you had better contact us.
 

How much?

We cannot provide one amount that fits for all. The calculation, among other things, depends on:

• the number of persons that are entitled to the survivor’s pension;
• any entitlement to the guaranteed minimum amount;
• any limitation to the relative or absolute maximum (for civil servants);
• other revenues (professional or benefits)
  Find out everything there is to know about combining a pension with other revenues

Want to find out more about the calculation?

Civil servants: calculation gross survivor's pension
Employees: calculation gross survivor's pension

How to apply?

You do not have to file an application if your spouse had already retired.

In all other cases, you do have to apply.

You have to apply?

Apply for your survivor's pension on mypension.beOpens in a new window

When you have filed your application and if you provided your email address, you will receive a confirmation. On your next visit to mypension.be, you will find your application under 'My file'.

You can also apply:

• with the municipality of your place of residence;
• on the Pension phone line 1765.
  
  

Good to know: when does your survivor's pension start?

• The deceased had already retired?
  • In this case, the survivor's pension starts on the first day of the month after the decease.
    
    
• The deceased had not yet retired?
  • In that case, the survivor's pension as an employee starts on the first day of the month of the decease.
  • In that case, the survivor's pension as a civil servant starts on the first day of the month after the decease.

Exception: you do have to file an application? Please note that when you apply more than 12 months after the decease, your survivor's pension will start on the first day of the month after your application.

Please note: if there are both a spouse and an ex-spouse, the ex-spouse loses his or her entitlement to a survivor's pension if he or she did not apply within the year after the decease.

Good to know: when will your survivor's pension be paid?

• Please consult the payment dates