Remarriage Ends Survivor Pensions in Germany, but a Lump-Sum Payout Can Be Claimed

Overview

• In Germany, a widow’s or widower’s pension ceases upon remarriage, yet a one-time settlement is available if the beneficiary applies.
• The standard settlement equals 24 times the average monthly survivor pension from the last year of payment, calculated after income offsets and before health and long-term care deductions.
• For the time-limited “small” survivor pension, any remaining entitlement up to the 24‑month limit is paid out if remarriage occurs earlier.
• Payments are not automatic and must be requested from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, typically with the deceased’s insurance number and the new marriage certificate.
• Eligibility for survivor benefits generally requires at least one year of marriage at death with exceptions for sudden or accidental death, fulfillment of the five-year insurance period, and proper reporting of own pensions or earnings, as underscored by a court-backed €60,000 clawback case.