Overview

• The BDA issued a position paper on 21 September proposing to limit the Hinterbliebenenrente to means-tested support and to require mandatory 50:50 rentensplitting, citing a system cost of about €45 billion.
• The Federal Ministry for Social Affairs rejects abolishing or radically changing the benefit and reiterates its commitment to protecting bereaved partners in the statutory system.
• Under current rules, from the fourth month after a partner’s death, 40% of a survivor’s income above the allowance is credited against the benefit, with calculations based on the previous calendar year’s net income.
• Since July 2025, the monthly allowance has been €1,076.86 plus €228.40 for each eligible child, a DRV adjustment intended to improve incentives to work.
• Eligibility generally requires at least one year of marriage or registered partnership and a pension entitlement of the deceased, with large pensions paying 60% under old law or 55% under post‑2002 rules and the small pension paying 25% for a limited duration.