To receive a survivor’s pension, you must meet a certain number of conditions, which differ depending on the pension scheme.
Upon the death of his or her husband or wife, the surviving spouse can, under certain conditions, receive part of his or her retirement pension from Social Security Retirement Insurance. The objective of the survivor’s pension is to compensate for the loss of income suffered by the surviving spouse upon the death of their spouse.
What is the amount of the survivor’s pension in 2026?
The survivor’s pension corresponds to part of the basic pension that your deceased spouse or ex-spouse received or could have received. It is calculated at 54% of this basic pension. To guarantee a minimum income, the amount of this survivorship cannot be less than 4,019.13 euros per year (i.e. €334.92 per month) if the deceased person had contributed at least 15 years (60 quarters) to the general pension insurance. If she had contributed for a shorter period, the minimum is reduced proportionally to her validated quarters.
In what cases can the amount be increased?
Furthermore, this basic amount may be increased in certain cases. For example, if you have reached the legal age for full retirement (around 67 years), have exercised all your rights, and your resources are below a certain threshold (quarterly), an increase of around 11.1% may apply. There is also an increase if you had at least three children with the deceased. These rules concern the basic pension of the general system; Specific rules and different rates may apply for supplementary plans (such as Agirc-Arrco) or other retirement plans.
Survivor’s pension: the resource ceilings not to be exceeded to benefit from it
In 2026, gross annual resources must be less than 25,001.60 euros for people living alone and 40,002.56 euros for people living as a couple. “The resources taken into account when applying for a survivor’s pension are those of the 3 calendar months preceding the date of award of the survivor’s pension. When they exceed a quarter of the applicable resource ceiling, it is the resources of the 12 calendar months preceding the date of grant of the survivor’s pension which are taken into account. specifies the government.
What are the conditions for receiving survivor’s pension?
The widowed person must have been married to the deceased person (PACS or cohabitation do not give right to survivor’s pension) and be at least 55 years old. Furthermore, the deceased person must have benefited from or retired from a Retirement Insurance pension.
Documents to provide to apply for survivor’s pension
If you are a widower without dependent children, here are the documents you will need:
- Full copy of your birth certificate with marginal note reflecting the current situation
- Bank identity statement (RIB or RICE) in your name in IBAN format
- Last two income tax notices
- Full copy of your family record book (current family situation)
- Birth certificate of the deceased person with marginal mention reflecting the current situation
- Full copy of your last family record book
The survivor’s pension is therefore an important right for surviving spouses, but its amount depends on several precise rules. It is not just a fixed percentage: it is necessary to take into account the resources of the beneficiary, the contribution history of the deceased, and any increases for age or children. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is recommended to carry out a simulation with your pension fund or on the Retirement Insurance website, and to regularly check your rights (especially if your family or income situation changes).
