Overview
- Roughly six million people receive a survivors’ pension, with about 2.6 million getting reduced payments and more than 750,000 heavily affected, losing on average around €208 per month.
- The pension insurer applies a three-step method: 40% is deducted from gross earnings to form a standardized net, the allowance is subtracted, then 40% of the remainder is credited against the benefit.
- The allowance for 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 is €1,038.05 per month, rising by €220.19 for each child entitled to an orphan’s pension.
- A t‑online example shows a €1,000 survivors’ benefit falling to €0 if the recipient’s own monthly gross earnings reach €5,896.75 with no eligible children or other income.
- Counted income spans wages, company pensions and severance payments, and recipients are urged to review pension notices and appeal potential calculation errors; benefit levels also depend on whether the small (25%) or large (55% new law/60% old law) pension applies.