PensionsEditorially reviewed 02/09/2026

Applying for a survivor's pension

Check who can obtain a survivor's pension after an insured person or pension recipient dies and how to apply to HZMO.

Price from

€0.00

Usual time

Depends on the evidence and number of recipients

Responsible institution

HZMO

How would you like to apply?

Documents and steps differ depending on how you apply.

Submit the application and attachments to HZMO or another officially available submission point.

Electronic submission is available through HZMO e-services.

Selected: 0 of 5

Application for recognition of entitlement to a survivor's pension
Proof of the death of the insured person or pension recipientNot required if HZMO can retrieve the detail from official records.
Proof of kinship, marriage, partnership or maintenanceAttach where the relationship is not evident or sufficient in official records.
Additional evidence for the conditions of an individual family memberFor example, proof of education, incapacity for work or a court right to maintenance.

Proof of the death of the insured person or pension recipientNot required if HZMO can retrieve the detail from official records.
Proof of kinship, marriage, partnership or maintenanceAttach where the relationship is not evident or sufficient in official records.
Additional evidence for the conditions of an individual family memberFor example, proof of education, incapacity for work or a court right to maintenance.
e-Citizens login credential

Selections are saved only in this browser. We do not store document numbers or personal data.

1
Check the deceased person's status
Entitlement depends on whether the deceased person met insurance-period conditions, was a pension recipient or received certain rights.
2
Check the family member's conditions
Conditions differ for a spouse or cohabiting spouse, life partner, children and other family members.
3
Collect the required evidence
Prepare documents proving the relationship and special conditions not available to HZMO.
4
Submit the application to HZMO
Submit the application and evidence of the family relationship to a regional service, post office or pension information centre.
5
Review the decision and possibility of part of a survivor's pension
If you already receive your own pension, check whether you meet the separate conditions for payment of part of a survivor's pension.

1
Check the deceased person's status
Entitlement depends on whether the deceased person met insurance-period conditions, was a pension recipient or received certain rights.
2
Check the family member's conditions
Conditions differ for a spouse or cohabiting spouse, life partner, children and other family members.
3
Collect the required evidence
Prepare documents proving the relationship and special conditions not available to HZMO.
4
Submit the application through e-Citizens
Select HZMO's survivor-pension e-application, check the details and upload evidence the Institute cannot obtain.
5
Review the decision and possibility of part of a survivor's pension
If you already receive your own pension, check whether you meet the separate conditions for payment of part of a survivor's pension.

Procedure	Price	Deadline
Submitting the application There is no administrative fee for submitting an application to HZMO.	€0.00	Depends on the evidence and number of recipients

Procedure

Price

Deadline

Submitting the application

There is no administrative fee for submitting an application to HZMO.

€0.00

Depends on the evidence and number of recipients

A survivor's pension and payment of part of a survivor's pension alongside your own pension are not the same application.
Conditions depend on the relationship with the deceased person, age, education, work capacity and other circumstances.
An application submitted more than six months after conditions are met can affect the date from which entitlement is recognised.

Assuming every family member acquires entitlement automatically.
Not attaching evidence of education, maintenance or another special condition.
Confusing an application for a full survivor's pension with an application for payment of part of it.

Information was editorially reviewed on 02/09/2026. Before applying, check the latest information on official websites.

Report incorrect or outdated information. Your report is a signal for editorial review and does not change the guide automatically.