More than 4 million people receive a survivor’s pension in France each year. It is mainly women (nearly 90%) who perceive it. Thanks to this system, established in 1945 with the creation of Social Security, the surviving spouse receives part of the deceased’s pension. Even if the latter had not yet taken the keel. If the mechanism exists in all pension plansthe conditions for obtaining it vary from one plan to another: depending on the level of resources of the beneficiary, their age and their family situation.
The first condition for eligibility is to have been married, sometimes with a criterion of minimum duration of marriage to be met. As for the amount received by the widow or widower, it corresponds to 54% of retirement of the deceased spouse in the basic private plans, versus 50% if the deceased was a civil servantAnd 60% in most supplementary plans. Ex-spouses, even in a relationship or remarried, can claim it. Where applicable, the pension is shared proportionally to the duration of each marriage.
Towards a change in the rules of the game
In its report submitted on November 20, 2025, the Retirement Orientation Council (COR) makes proposals to change the rules of the game of family and marital rights. Concerning the survivor’s pension, a harmonization of conditions is considered. With a revision of the calculation methodso that it becomes a “safety net» for the lowest incomes.
This work, presenting avenues for development, was ordered in May 2023 by the then Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne. But in the context of the suspension of pension reform, such an overhaul of the system is not on the political agenda.
Make your request online
If we had to remember just one thing, it’s the following. In the event of the death of your spouse or ex-spouse, make your reversion request on the interneteven if you are not sure that you meet all the conditions. A right to reversion simulator is also at your disposal. Note that you could receive a pension from the supplementary schemes, even if you do not receive that from the general scheme. It’s worth looking into!
The good news is that the process is done on a single portal, for all the plans to which the deceased had contributed. Go to your retirement account to complete your electronic file and submit the required supporting documents (tax notice, birth certificate, family record book, RIB, etc.). The advice is not to wait too long because the retroactivity is limited in times. In the private sector, you have twelve months from death to get a catch-up.
