Germany's survivor pension system and income offset rules

In Germany, approximately 5.7 million widows and widowers receive statutory survivor pensions. Under current law, these benefits remain intact, though the Pension Commission is examining potential reform options for survivor coverage.

There are two primary types of survivor pensions: the ‘small’ widow's pension, which typically covers 25 percent of the deceased partner's pension for a maximum of 24 months, and the ‘large’ widow's pension, which provides 55 to 60 percent and can be paid indefinitely. Eligibility for the large pension often depends on age (with the threshold gradually rising to 47), raising children, or being unable to work due to disability.

To qualify, the marriage or registered partnership must generally have lasted at least one year, and the deceased must have met a five-year contribution period. While retirees can now earn unlimited additional income alongside their own pensions, survivor pensions are subject to income offsets. Earnings exceeding a specific allowance—set at 1,122.53 euros as of July 2026, with additional allowances per child—are generally offset against the survivor's pension at a rate of 40 percent. A three-month ‘death quarter’ period exists immediately following a partner's death, during which the survivor's income is not taken into account.