Survivors’ pensions are only granted upon formal application by the interested parties.
Even in the event of death of a pension beneficiary, the survivor’s pension can only be granted upon application by the survivors. Where the beneficiaries are known, the National Pension Insurance Fund (CNAP – Caisse nationale d’assurance pension) may send an application form to be completed to the survivors.
A copy of the marriage certificate or the declaration of civil partnership, as well as the death certificate, must be attached to the application.
After examination of the conditions for attribution, the pension is granted or rejected by a decision subject to appeal.
(See ‘The appeal procedures‘)
The survivors submit an application either to the institution of their place of residence or to the institution of the last country whose legislation was applicable. If the interested party was not subject at any time to the legislation applied by the institution of the place of residence, that institution forwards the application to the institution of the last Member State whose legislation was applicable.
In order for the death of a person to give rise to a survivor’s pension, the deceased must either be a beneficiary of an old-age or invalidity pension, or be an insured person who at the time of death can demonstrate a qualifying period of at least 12 months of insurance under compulsory, continued or optional insurance during the 3 years preceding the death.
(See ‘The different types of insurance periods‘)
This 3-year reference period is extended insofar as and to the extent that it overlaps with additional periods or periods corresponding to the receipt of the inclusion allowance of the social inclusion income (REVIS) or the income for severely disabled persons (RPGH). (See ‘Additional periods‘)
This qualifying period is not required in the event of death of the insured person attributable to an accident of any nature or a recognised occupational disease during the affiliation.
The law also provides that, where it is established by criminal judgment that the potential beneficiaries of a survivor’s pension voluntarily caused the death or contributed to it by an intentional act, they are deprived of all pension entitlement.
In the event of absence of an insured person or a pension beneficiary for at least one year and circumstances making their death probable, the rights to the survivor’s pension may be opened.
In principle, the spouse of the deceased or their partner within the meaning of the ‘PACS‘ has a right to a survivor’s pension.
However, no right to a survivor’s pension is opened for spouses who contracted a marriage:
either with a beneficiary of an old-age or invalidity pension;
or with an insured person less than one year before their retirement (for invalidity or old-age) or before their death.
However, the following exceptions exist:
the death or the granting of the invalidity pension are due to an accident; or
a child was born or conceived during the marriage, or legitimised by the marriage; or
the marriage lasted at least one year and the age difference between the spouses is less than or equal to 15 years; or
the marriage lasted at least 10
The same provisions apply in the context of a civil partnership.
Where a beneficiary of an old-age or invalidity pension or an insured person fulfilling the conditions for the granting of a survivor’s pension dies without leaving a surviving spouse or partner, the following may be treated as a surviving spouse: relatives and relatives-in-law in the direct line (son or daughter, grandson or grand-daughter, father or mother) and the spouses or partners of those persons, relatives in the collateral line up to and including the 2nd degree (brother and sister), or adopted children who were minors at the time of adoption, provided that:
they are widowed, divorced, judicially separated, former partners or single;
they have been living in a domestic community with the insured person or pension beneficiary for at least 5 years preceding the death;
they have kept house for the same period;
the insured person or pension beneficiary contributed predominantly to their maintenance during the same period;
they are aged over 40 at the time of the death of the insured person or pension.
ATTENTION: Regardless of the duration of the cohabitation and whether or not there are children, an informal union does not give rise to an entitlement to a survivor’s pension. Only marriage or civil partnership/PACS can generate the right to a survivor’s pension.
In the event of death of their former spouse, the divorced spouse is entitled to a survivor’s pension provided that they have not contracted a new marriage before the death of their divorced spouse.
In the event of the cumulation of one or more divorced spouses with a spouse, the survivor’s pension is shared among the beneficiaries in proportion to the duration of the different marriages.
The same provisions apply in the event of dissolution of a partnership for a cause other than death.
Legitimate children are entitled, after the death of either the father or the mother, to a survivor’s pension, under the same qualifying period conditions of the deceased as those provided for other survivor’s pensions.
The following are treated as legitimate children:
legitimised children;
adopted children;
natural children;
all children, orphaned of both father and mother, provided that the insured person or pension beneficiary assumed their maintenance and upbringing during the 10 months preceding their death and that they do not have a right to an orphan’s pension following the death of their parents.
The orphan’s pension is granted until the age of 18. It is granted or maintained up to a maximum age of 27 if the orphan is prevented from earning a living as a result of scientific or technical preparation for their future profession.
The orphan’s pension expires at the end of the age limits provided or earlier if the child dies. Except in the case of studies, the orphan’s pension ceases to be paid from the month following the marriage or declaration of partnership of the beneficiary. It also ceases in the event of granting of a personal pension.
The survivor’s pension paid to the beneficiary is calculated on the basis of the old-age pension from which the deceased benefited or, if the deceased was not yet retired, on the basis of the invalidity pension to which they would have been entitled in the event of invalidity.
The survivors’ pensions are indexed to the variations in the cost of living and adjusted to the evolution of the level of wages. (See ‘Indexation, revaluation and readjustment‘)
(last updated on 24.06.2026)
The survivor's pension of the spouse of the deceased
The annual survivor’s pension of the spouse is composed, in the event of death of a pension beneficiary or an insured person, of:
3/4 of the proportional increases (including, where applicable, the staggered increases) and the special proportional increases to which the insured person was or would have been entitled;
the totality of the lump-sum increases and the special lump-sum increases to which the insured person was or would have been entitled;
the totality of the end-of-year allowance calculated for the pension to which the insured person was or would have been entitled.
If the pension is not paid to the beneficiary for the entire calendar year, the end-of-year allowance is reduced by 1/12 for each full calendar month. The surviving spouse or partner who lived in a domestic community with the beneficiary of an old-age or invalidity pension is entitled to the totality of the allowance for the period of the calendar year extending to the end of the month of death.
The survivor’s pension is increased up to the minimum pension to which the deceased insured person was or would have been entitled. In the event of early death, the number of years missing between the start of the pension entitlement and the age of 65 is taken into account to complete the qualifying period for the minimum pension, without the total number being able to exceed 40.
In order to spare you the need to refer to the rather complicated provisions of the Social Security Code, the CSL has developed a tool, available on its website, enabling the automatic calculation of the amount of the survivor’s pension of the spouse or partner.
The survivor's pension of the former spouse of the deceased
The survivor’s pension of divorced spouses is established on the basis of the survivor’s pension according to the contributory insurance periods completed by the spouse during the duration of the marriage relative to the total duration of the insurance periods credited to the deceased.
In the event of the cumulation of one or more survivors’ pensions for divorced spouses and a survivor’s pension for a spouse, the survivor’s pension is shared in proportion to the duration of the different marriages or partnerships, without however the survivor’s pension of the divorced spouse being able to exceed that which would have been theirs in the absence of the cumulation of several survivor’s pensions.
The annual survivor’s pension of the orphan is composed, in the event of death of a pension beneficiary or an insured person, of:
1/4 of the proportional increases (including, where applicable, the staggered increases) and the special proportional increases to which the insured person was or would have been entitled;
1/3 of the lump-sum increases and the special lump-sum increases to which the insured person was or would have been entitled;
1/3 of the end-of-year allowance.
Where a right to an orphan’s pension exists both on the part of the father and of the mother, the higher pension is paid. This higher amount is doubled insofar as the child is orphaned of both father and mother.
In the event that the deceased benefited or could have benefited from a minimum pension supplement, one quarter of this supplement is allocated to the orphan.
In no case may all the survivors’ pensions on behalf of an insured person exceed the pension that would have been due to the insured person or, if this method of calculation is more favourable, the average of the five highest annual contributory incomes of the insurance career, without this average being less than the reference amount increased by 20% (3,248.05 euros per month as at 1 June 2026).
If the total of the survivors’ pensions exceeds this limit, they are reduced proportionally.
The pensions of the survivors who lived with a beneficiary of an old-age or invalidity pension in a common house-hold or whose maintenance was at their charge are supplemented for the 3 months following the opening of the entitlement up to the pension of the deceased.
If the deceased was not yet the holder of an old-age or invalidity pension, the pensions of the survivors who lived in a domestic community with the insured person or whose maintenance was at their charge are supplemented for the month of death and the 3 subsequent months up to the invalidity pension to which the deceased would have been entitled in the event of invalidity.
In the event of upholding of salary relating to the end of the month of the occurrence of the death of the employee and the granting of an allowance equal to 3 monthly salaries for the survivors, the survivor’s pension as well as the supplement are paid by way of compensation to the employer.
EXAMPLE 1: Survivor’s pension for spouse and orphan
Jean-Marc had a pension of 3,678.71 euros, composed of 678.71 euros of lump-sum increases and 3,000 euros under proportional increases. Upon his death, he leaves a spouse and two children, each entitled to a survivor’s pension.
Jean-Marc’s spouse is entitled to a survivor’s pension corresponding to 100% of the lump-sum increases and 75% of the proportional increases of Jean-Marc:
Survivor’s pension of the spouse = 100% × 678.71 + 75% × 3,000 = 2,928.71 euros.
Each of the orphans is entitled to a survivor’s pension corresponding to one-third of the lump-sum increases and one-quarter of the proportional increases of Jean-Marc:
However, the sum of the survivor’s pensions paid may not exceed the highest of these amounts:
the pension that would have been due to the insured person, or
the average of the 5 highest annual contributory incomes of the insurance career, or
the reference amount increased by 20%, e. 3,248.05 euros per month as at 1 June 2026.
Suppose that, in Jean-Marc’s case, the highest amount among these indicators is the average of the 5 highest annual contributory incomes, and that this amounts to 4,500 euros.
Given that the sum of the survivor’s pensions (2,928.71 + 2 × 976.24 = 4,881.19 euros) exceeds this ceiling, they must be reduced proportionally:
Reduction factor: 4,500 / 4,881.19 = 0.9219063
Reduced survivor’s pension of the spouse: 0.9219063 × 2,928.71 = 2,700.00 euros Reduced survivor’s pension of the orphans: 0.9219063 × 976.24 = 900.00 euros
EXAMPLE 2: Survivor’s pension for former spouse
Marie-Jeanne had a pension of 3,178.71 euros, composed of 678.71 euros under lump-sum increases and 2,500 euros under proportional increases. Upon her death, she leaves a former spouse who has not remarried since the divorce with Marie-Jeanne.
To determine the level of the former spouse’s survivor’s pension, it is determinant to identify what proportion of Marie-Jeanne’s contributory insurance periods was completed during the period of marriage.
Suppose that the marriage lasted 205 months and that during these 205 months of marriage, Marie-Jeanne was insured under compulsory, continued or optional pension insurance for 129 months. Suppose further that Marie-Jeanne had a complete contributory insurance career of 480 months.
The former spouse of Marie-Jeanne is entitled to 129/480 of the survivor’s pension resulting from Marie-Jeanne’s pension.
The ‘normal’ survivor’s pension of the spouse would correspond to 100% of the lump-sum increases and 75% of the proportional increases of Marie-Jeanne, i.e.:
100% × 678.71 + 75% × 2,500 = 2,553.71 euros.
The survivor’s pension of Marie-Jeanne’s former spouse then amounts to: 129/480 × 2,553.71 = 686.31 euros.
EXAMPLE 3: Survivor’s pension for spouse and former spouse
Let us take the preceding example of Marie-Jeanne and add the hypothesis that Marie-Jeanne leaves not only a former spouse but also a spouse.
In such a scenario, the ‘normal’ survivor’s pension is shared proportionally to the duration of the different marriages between the spouse and the former spouse, without the survivor’s pension for the former spouse being able to exceed that to which they would be entitled if there were no other spouse [i.e. without exceeding that calculated under Example 2].
Suppose that the marriage with the surviving spouse lasted 160 months.
Given that Marie-Jeanne was married for a total of 160 + 205 = 365 months, according to the proportional sharing by duration of marriage, the former spouse would be entitled to 205/365 of the “normal” survivor’s pension,
i.e. 205/365 × 2,553.71 = 1,434.28 euros.
Given that this amount would be higher than in the absence of a surviving spouse, the survivor’s pension of the former spouse is reduced to the amount determined under Example 2, i.e. 686.31 euros.
The remainder of the survivor’s pension, namely 2,553.71 – 686.31 = 1,867.40 euros, goes to Marie-Jeanne’s widower.
(last updated on 24.06.2026)
The end of the survivor's pension
Spouse or former spouse of the deceased
In principle, survivors’ pensions are granted for life to eligible spouses, partners, former spouses and/or former partners.
However, survivors’ pensions cease to be paid from the month following that of remarriage or a new partnership.
If the holder of a survivor’s pension contracts a new commitment by marriage or partnership before the age of 50, the survivor’s pension is bought out at the rate of 5 times the amount paid during the last 12 months. In the event of a new marriage or partnership after the age of 50, the rate is 3 times the aforementioned amount.
The buyout amount is limited to the lump-sum and proportional increases and does not take into account any reductions due under the anti-cumulation provision. The special proportional increases and the special lump-sum increases relating to prospective periods are disregarded. (See ‘The cumulation of a survivor’s pension with other income’)
If the new marriage or partnership is dissolved, either by divorce or the end of the partnership, or by the death of the spouse or partner, the right to the survivor’s pension is re-established from, as the case may be, 5 years or 3 years after the new commitment. In the event that the dissolution of the marriage or partnership falls within the period covered by the buyout, the pension is re-established from the first day of the month following this dissolution, less the amount used for the determination of the buyout for the residual period.
In the event that the death of the new spouse or partner also opens a right to a survivor’s pension, only the higher pension is paid.
The orphan’s pension is paid as long as the beneficiary fulfils the age conditions for its maintenance. However, the orphan’s pension ceases even before the age of 18 if the orphan contracts a marriage or partnership before that age and does not pursue studies.
It likewise ceases in the event of granting of a personal pension to the orphan.
The cumulation of a survivor's pension with other income
It is possible to cumulate a survivor’s pension with personal income. However, depending on the nature and amount of the personal income, anti-cumulation rules may apply.
If the person is a beneficiary of a survivor’s pension of the spouse or former spouse, the anti-cumulation rules are different compared to a beneficiary of an orphan’s pension.
(last updated on 24.06.2026)
The rules for the spouse or former spouse of the deceased
Cumulation with a survivor’s accident pension
In the event of the cumulation of a survivor’s pension with an accident pension granted to survivors for an accident or occupational disease declared before 1 January 2011, the survivor’s pension is reduced insofar as it exceeds, together with the accident pension:
either 3/4 of the average of the 5 highest annual contributory incomes of the career, without this average being less than the reference amount increased by 20% (3,248.05 euros per month as at 1 June 2026);
or the professional income which served as the basis for calculating the accident pension, if this other method of calculation is more favourable.
Cumulation with professional or replacement income
When the survivor’s pension exceeds, together with professional income, replacement income or personal pensions, a threshold corresponding to the reference amount increased by 50% (4,060.06 euros per month as at 1 June 2026), anti-cumulation rules are applied so as to operate a reduction of the survivor’s pension.
Among professional income or replacement income relating to a professional activity, an amount corresponding to two-thirds of the reference amount is not taken into consideration (this exempt professional income corresponds, as at 1 June 2026, to a monthly amount of 1,804.47 euros) for the determination of the anti-cumulation rules.
Where the cumulation of personal income taken into account and the survivor’s pension exceeds the aforementioned threshold, the survivor’s pension is reduced by 30% of the amount of personal income, excluding those representing the difference between the survivor’s pension and the said threshold.
Where the survivor’s pension already exceeds the aforementioned threshold, the survivor’s pension is reduced by 30% of the amount of personal income taken into account.
EXAMPLE 1: Cumulation of a survivor’s pension with a personal pension
Marie-Charlotte has an old-age pension of 1,500 euros. The death of her husband gives rise to a monthly survivor’s pension of 5,000 euros.
The sum of the two pensions exceeds the threshold of 4,060.06 euros, so that anti-cumulation provisions must be applied.
Given that the survivor’s pension alone already exceeds the threshold, it is reduced by 30% of the personal pension: 30% of 1,500 = 500 euros.
EXAMPLE 2: Cumulation of a survivor’s pension with a personal pension
Jean-Paul has an old-age pension of 2,000 euros. The death of his spouse gives rise to a monthly survivor’s pension of 2,200 euros.
The sum of the two pensions exceeds the threshold of 4,060.06 euros, so that anti-cumulation provisions must be applied.
Given that the survivor’s pension alone does not exceed the threshold, it is reduced by 30% of the personal pension, excluding the amount of the difference between the survivor’s pension and the threshold:
30% of [2,000 – (4,060.06 – 2,200)] = 30% of 139.94 = 41.98 euros.
EXAMPLE 3: Cumulation of a survivor’s pension with professional income
Marie-Paule has a salary of 3,000 euros. The death of her spouse gives rise to a monthly survivor’s pension of 2,000 euros.
Marie-Paule’s personal income to be taken into account under the anti-cumulation rules is limited to the income exceeding 1,804.47 euros:
Salary to be taken into account = 3,000 – 1,804.47 = 1,195.53 euros.
The sum of income to be taken into account and the survivor’s pension (1,195.53 + 2,000 = 3,195.53) remains below the threshold of 4,060.06 euros, so that no reduction is to be applied under the anti-cumulation provisions.
EXAMPLE 4: Cumulation of a survivor’s pension with professional income
Jean-Christophe has a salary of 4,000 euros. The death of his spouse gives rise to a monthly survivor’s pension of 2,000 euros.
Jean-Christophe’s personal income to be taken into account under the anti-cumulation rules is limited to the income exceeding 1,804.47 euros:
Salary to be taken into account = 4,000 – 1,804.47 = 2,195.53 euros.
The sum of income to be taken into account and the survivor’s pension (2,195.53 + 2,000 = 4,195.53) exceeds the threshold of 4,060.06 euros, so that anti-cumulation provisions must be applied.
Given that the survivor’s pension alone does not exceed the threshold, it is reduced by 30% of the personal income to be taken into account, excluding the amount of the difference between the survivor’s pension and the threshold:
30% of [2,195.53 – (4,060.06 – 2,000)] = 30% of 135.47 = 40.46 euros.
EXAMPLE 5: Cumulation of a survivor’s pension with professional income
Marie-Claude has a salary of 4,250 euros. The death of her spouse gives rise to a monthly survivor’s pension of 4,500 euros.
Marie-Claude’s personal income to be taken into account under the anti-cumulation rules is limited to the income exceeding 1,804.47 euros:
Salary to be taken into account = 4,250 – 1,804.47 = 2,445.53 euros.
Given that the survivor’s pension alone already exceeds the threshold of 4,060.06 euros, it is reduced by 30% of the personal income to be taken into account:
In the event of the cumulation of an orphan’s pension with an accident pension granted to the orphan for an accident or occupational disease declared before 1 January 2011, the pension is reduced insofar as it exceeds, together with the accident pension:
Where an orphan of both father and mother is concerned:
either 3/4 of the average of the 5 highest annual contributory incomes of the career, without this average being less than the reference amount increased by 20% (3,248.05 euros per month as at 1 June 2026);
or 3/4 of the professional income which served as the basis for calculating the accident pension, if this other method of calculation is more favourable.
Where an orphan of father or mother is concerned:
either 1/3 of the average of the 5 highest annual contributory incomes of the career, without this average being less than the reference amount increased by 20%;
or 1/3 of the professional income which served as the basis for calculating the accident pension, if this other method of calculation is more favourable.