Survivors’ benefits

  1. Spouse's pension or settlement / partner's pension (Art. 23)
    • On the death of the insured member, the surviving spouse, providing he/she fulfils the following conditions, is entitled to a spouse's pension when he or she:
      • has to provide for one or more children or
      • receives an insurance disability allowance or
      • is over 35 years old and the marriage lasted for at least five years.
    • If the spouse fulfils none of these conditions, he/she shall be entitled to a lump-sum death benefit under Art. 26 par. 2.
    • The right to a spouse's pension begins in the month when the salary or annuity of the deceased member is no longer paid out. It ceases on the death of the surviving spouse.
    • The spouse's pension shall amount to 60% of the insured or actual disability pension at the time of death or the actual retirement pension at the time of death.
    • Under certain circumstances the designated life partner of the same or opposite sex of a member, retiree or recipient of a disability benefit shall be entitled to a survivor's pension up to the amount of a spouse's pension under the same conditions as a spouse. 
       
  2. Orphans' pensions (Art. 25)
    • The children of deceased members or retirees are entitled to an orphan's pension.
    • This entitlement accrues on the death of the member, but at the earliest on the termination of any legal or contractual salary rights. It ceases on the death of the orphan or on his/her reaching the age of 18. However, this entitlement is extended up to the age of 25:
      • for children in higher education until graduation and
      • for children who are at least 70% disabled until the time they are able to work.
    • The orphans' pension per child shall amount to 20% of the insured or actual disability pension at the time of death or the actual retirement pension at the time of death. The above amount shall be doubled for a child who has lost both parents.
       
  3. Lump-sum death benefit (Art. 26)
    • If a member dies before drawing a retirement pension, a lump-sum death benefit shall become due.
    • The lump-sum death benefit amounts to 100% of the appropriate annual salary as stipulated by Art. 6.
    • The lump-sum death benefit is increased by the amount of any termination benefit accruing to the member under Art. 30 at the time of death, less the NPV of any other benefits from the Pension Fund.
    • Regardless of inheritance rights, the following persons, in the order given, are eligible for benefits:
      • the spouse and the deceased's children who are entitled to an orphan's pension from the Pension Fund,
      • if none of the above-mentioned beneficiaries exist, persons who were substantially provided for by the deceased or the person who lived in a relationship with the deceased over the last five years uninterrupted until his/her death,
      • if none of the above-mentioned beneficiaries exist, the deceased's other children or his/her parents, brothers or sisters.