Right to dependants' pension

Who has the right to a spouse pension?

A spouse or a registered partner of an SPK-member has a right to a spouse pension.

Should the death be caused by an illness which the deceased suffered from - or showed symptoms of - at the time of employment or prior to marriage, the following conditions apply:

• the deceased must have been employed at least one year in the position which is eligible for membership in SPK
• the marriage must be registrered and valid at least one year prior to death

Cohabitants do not have the right to spouse pension.

If the deceased was a previous member of SPK for three years or more, the spouse could have pension rights, even if the deceased had changed employer.

Divorcees may have pension rights

A divorcee could have a right to spouse pension as long as the following conditions are met: 

• The deceased must have been an SPK-member prior to the divorce 
• The marriage must have lasted ten years or more
• You as a dependant, must have been 45 years of age or older at the time of the divorce
• The dependant must not have remarried at the time of the ex-spouse's death
• The dependant must not formally have signed off the right to spouse pension

Please note that you are considered married, also during the time of the separation until the divorce is registered and approved by the authorities. 

In case the deceased has been married several times, the pension will be divided between the ex-spouses according to years of marriage.

What if the dependant remarries?

The right to a spouse pension is cancelled if you remarry. The pension payments could restart should the second marriage end due to death or divorce.