Wegweiser Grief & Bereavement · Rights & Support Deutsch

🧒 Orphan's pension

Half-orphan's pension when one parent dies, full orphan's pension when both are gone – usually until the 18th birthday, or the 27th if in training.

Orphan's pension Half-orphan's pension Full orphan's pension § 48 SGB VI § 99 SGB VI

In brief

After the death of a parent, children are entitled to a half-orphan's pension if a parent with a duty of maintenance is still alive, and to a full orphan's pension if no parent with a duty of maintenance remains (§ 48 SGB VI). A requirement is that the deceased parent met the general qualifying period of five years.

The entitlement generally lasts until the 18th birthday and is extended until the 27th birthday for as long as the child is in school or vocational training, studying or doing a comparable voluntary service, and without an age limit in the case of a disability that arose before reaching the respective age limit.

Step by step

  1. Submit the applicationApply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung – for minor children, by the parent with custody or the guardian.
  2. Submit documentsEnclose the death certificate and the child's birth certificate.
  3. Submit proof of trainingFor children over 18, submit a certificate of school attendance, training or study in order to keep receiving the pension beyond the 18th birthday.
  4. Report changesNotify the pension insurance without delay when training ends or is interrupted.
  5. Apply in good timeApply within 12 calendar months of the death so as not to lose retroactive entitlements.

Deadlines

12 calendar months
Retroactive payment of the orphan's pension for at most the twelve calendar months before the month of application§ 99 Abs. 2 SGB VI
18th birthday
Regular end of the orphan's pension entitlement§ 48 Abs. 4 SGB VI
27th birthday
Extension for school/vocational training, studies or comparable voluntary service§ 48 Abs. 4 SGB VI
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Without a training certificate submitted in good time, payment may be interrupted after the 18th birthday.
  • Unlike with the widow's pension, the orphan's own income is generally not counted against the orphan's pension – exceptions should be checked with the pension insurance in the individual case.
  • Adoption and foster-child situations can affect entitlement – if in doubt, ask the Deutsche Rentenversicherung directly.
  • For minor children, the application must be made by the person with custody.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Half-orphan's and full orphan's pension compared

The half-orphan's pension is 10 percent and the full orphan's pension 20 percent of the pension for full reduced earning capacity to which the deceased parent would have been entitled or which they were already receiving (pension type factors 0.1 and 0.2 under § 67 SGB VI). Where applicable, a supplement for child-raising and consideration periods under § 78a SGB VI is added.

Extension of the age limit

The age limit of 27 years can be pushed back further if school or vocational training was delayed by statutory military, civilian or comparable service; the extension then corresponds to the duration of that service.

Who is responsible
  • Deutsche Rentenversicherung (Bund or the responsible regional institution)
Further reading
Widow's pension and widower's pensionDeath: the first steps

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Orphan's pension“?
Half-orphan's pension when one parent dies, full orphan's pension when both are gone – usually until the 18th birthday, or the 27th if in training.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 12 calendar months: Retroactive payment of the orphan's pension for at most the twelve calendar months before the month of application (§ 99 Abs. 2 SGB VI)
  • 18th birthday: Regular end of the orphan's pension entitlement (§ 48 Abs. 4 SGB VI)
  • 27th birthday: Extension for school/vocational training, studies or comparable voluntary service (§ 48 Abs. 4 SGB VI)
What should I do first?
  • Submit the application: Apply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung – for minor children, by the parent with custody or the guardian.
  • Submit documents: Enclose the death certificate and the child's birth certificate.
  • Submit proof of training: For children over 18, submit a certificate of school attendance, training or study in order to keep receiving the pension beyond the 18th birthday.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Without a training certificate submitted in good time, payment may be interrupted after the 18th birthday.
  • Unlike with the widow's pension, the orphan's own income is generally not counted against the orphan's pension – exceptions should be checked with the pension insurance in the individual case.
  • Adoption and foster-child situations can affect entitlement – if in doubt, ask the Deutsche Rentenversicherung directly.
Evidence
  • §§ 48, 67, 78a, 99 SGB VI (gesetze-im-internet.de)
As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.