💍 Widow's pension and widower's pension

Small or large widow's/widower's pension – and why a late application can cost real money.

Widow's pension Widower's pension § 46 SGB VI Death quarter (Sterbevierteljahr) § 97 SGB VI § 99 SGB VI Large widow's pension

In brief

Widow's and widower's pensions are benefits of the statutory pension insurance for spouses and registered civil partners (§ 46 SGB VI). A requirement is that the deceased person met the general qualifying period (Wartezeit) of five years. A distinction is made between the time-limited "small" widow's pension (for marriages from 2002, as a rule 24 months) and the unlimited "large" widow's pension, which requires, among other things, that you are raising a child of your own, have reduced earning capacity or have reached a certain age limit.

In the first three months after the death – the so-called death quarter (Sterbevierteljahr) – your own income is not counted against the pension. After that, income is counted under § 97 SGB VI.

Step by step

Check the requirementsWas there a marriage or registered civil partnership, and did the deceased person meet the general qualifying period of five years?
Submit the pension applicationApply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance) – informally, with a form or online.
Enclose documentsEnclose the death certificate and the marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Clarify small or large widow's pensionCheck whether raising a child, reduced earning capacity or the age limit opens up an unlimited large widow's pension.
Prepare for income being countedAfter the death quarter, your own income is partly counted against the pension (§ 97 SGB VI) – have the relevant proof ready.

Deadlines

12 calendar months

A survivors' pension is paid retroactively for at most the twelve calendar months before the month of application – after that only from the month of application§ 99 Abs. 2 Satz 3 SGB VI

3 months

Death quarter (Sterbevierteljahr): in the first three calendar months after the death, your own income is not counted§ 97 SGB VI

24 months

Duration of the "small" widow's pension for marriages concluded from 2002§ 46 Abs. 1 SGB VI

46 years and 6 months (2026)

Age limit for the "large" widow's pension on grounds of age; the limit is being raised in stages to 47 years by 2029§ 46 Abs. 2, § 242a SGB VI

Watch out – common mistakes

Anyone who applies more than 12 months after the death permanently loses the pension for the period before that – it is worth not putting off the application for months.
The age limit for the large widow's pension is currently being raised step by step – anyone just below it should check whether another requirement (raising a child, reduced earning capacity) applies.
From the fourth month after the death, your own income (including your own pension) is partly counted – this can noticeably reduce the widow's pension.
A divorce before the death generally rules out a widow's pension; entitlements may then at most exist through the pension rights adjustment (Versorgungsausgleich) carried out in the divorce proceedings.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Requirements in detail

§ 46 SGB VI requires a valid marriage or registered civil partnership and that the deceased person met the general qualifying period (five years). Where the marriage lasted less than one year, it is presumed by law to be a so-called marriage of convenience for pension purposes (Versorgungsehe), which gives rise to no entitlement – this presumption can be rebutted in an individual case (§ 46 Abs. 2a SGB VI).

Income counting under § 97 SGB VI

After the death quarter, income above an allowance that is continuously linked to the current pension value is counted at 40 percent against the widow's/widower's pension. The allowance itself changes with the annual pension adjustments and is therefore not stated here as a fixed euro amount.

Transitional rule on the age limit (§ 242a SGB VI)

The age limit for the large widow's pension on grounds of age has for several years been raised step by step from the original 45 to 47 years; in 2026 it stands at 46 years and 6 months, and the uniform limit of 47 years will be reached in 2029.

Who is responsible

Deutsche Rentenversicherung (Bund or the responsible regional institution)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Widow's pension and widower's pension“?

Small or large widow's/widower's pension – and why a late application can cost real money.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

12 calendar months: A survivors' pension is paid retroactively for at most the twelve calendar months before the month of application – after that only from the month of application (§ 99 Abs. 2 Satz 3 SGB VI)
3 months: Death quarter (Sterbevierteljahr): in the first three calendar months after the death, your own income is not counted (§ 97 SGB VI)
24 months: Duration of the "small" widow's pension for marriages concluded from 2002 (§ 46 Abs. 1 SGB VI)
46 years and 6 months (2026): Age limit for the "large" widow's pension on grounds of age; the limit is being raised in stages to 47 years by 2029 (§ 46 Abs. 2, § 242a SGB VI)

What should I do first?

Check the requirements: Was there a marriage or registered civil partnership, and did the deceased person meet the general qualifying period of five years?
Submit the pension application: Apply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance) – informally, with a form or online.
Enclose documents: Enclose the death certificate and the marriage or civil partnership certificate.

What do I need to watch out for?

Anyone who applies more than 12 months after the death permanently loses the pension for the period before that – it is worth not putting off the application for months.
The age limit for the large widow's pension is currently being raised step by step – anyone just below it should check whether another requirement (raising a child, reduced earning capacity) applies.
From the fourth month after the death, your own income (including your own pension) is partly counted – this can noticeably reduce the widow's pension.

Evidence

§§ 46, 97, 99, 242a SGB VI (gesetze-im-internet.de)

As of

As of September 2026 (age limit for large widow's pension in 2026: 46 years and 6 months, § 242a SGB VI). · Sources and method

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