Germany allows divorced spouses to reclaim pension points if ex dies within three years

When a marriage ends in Germany, the family court automatically carries out a supply balance (Versorgungsausgleich) that splits the pension entitlements earned during the marriage between the former partners. Normally, pension points transferred to an ex‑spouse cannot be recovered.

The interests association for maintenance and family law (ISUV) points out an exception: if the ex‑partner dies within 36 months of the split, the surviving ex can apply to reverse the reduction. The request must be filed with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. If approved, the reversal takes effect from the month after the application is accepted, not retroactively to the date of death. Authorities do not inform divorced persons of the ex‑partner’s death, so the deadline can be missed.

This provision offers a limited window for widowed former spouses to restore pension points that were previously allocated under the divorce settlement.