Spouse’s pensions
On the death of an insured person or of a recipient of an old-age pension or disability pension the surviving spouse is entitled to a widow(er)’s pension. 

This amount of this pension is as follows:

• On the death of a person currently insured: 2/3 of the insured disability pension;
• On the death of a person in receipt of a disability pension: 2/3 of the current disability pension;
• On the death of an old-age pensioner: 2/3 of the current old-age pension.

The first payment of the spouse’s pension is made in the month following the death of the insured person or pensioner. It is paid until the death of the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse remarries before reaching the age of 45 then the entitlement to the pension shall expire. In this case a lump sum settlement is paid amounting to three times the annual spouse’s pension. 

Insured persons in a registered partnership are treated on equal terms with spouses. 

Form T is available to apply for the spouse’s pension. 

Partners’ pensions (Concubinage)
A person of the opposite sex or of the same sex referred to as a partner by the insured person or by the person in receipt of an old-age pension or disability pension is entitled to a partner’s pension equal to the spouse’s pension and subject to the same requirements as the spouse, if the following criteria are met: 

• the partner lived with the deceased insured person permanently for the last five years up to the latter’s death or must provide for one or more children born of their union; and 
• the partner does not draw a widow’s or widower’s pension (Art. 20 a BVG); and
• the Foundation was informed in writing of the partner of the insured person or of the person in receipt of an old-age pension or disability pension in the latter’s lifetime; and 
• an application to this end is submitted to the Foundation within three months of the death of the insured person or of the person in receipt of an old-age pension or disability pension. 

Are you cohabiting? Then you can use form L to notify us of your cohabitation arrangements and thereby improve the insurance benefits of your partner. 

Orphans’ pensions
On the death of an insured person or of a person in receipt of an old-age pension or disability pension, the children of the deceased are entitled to orphans’ pensions. The same entitlement is only open to foster children if they have substantiated eligibility for child benefit. The first payment of an orphan’s pension is made in the month following the death of the insured person or pensioner. The entitlement to an orphan’s pension shall expire if the orphan dies or when the orphan reaches the age of 18. Children who are in education or training or at least 70% disabled shall be entitled to receive the pension until they reach the age of 25. 

The annual orphan’s pension for each child is as follows: 

• On the death of a person currently insured: 1/6 of the insured disability pension at the time of death;
• On the death of a person in receipt of a disability pension: 1/6 of the current disability pension;
• On the death of an old-age pensioner: 1/6 of the current old-age pension.

Children who have lost both parents shall receive double the orphan’s pension. 

Sum payable at death
If an insured person dies and if that person’s retirement assets exceed the reserve required to cover any pensions and lump sum settlements which may be due to the spouse or partner, then a lump sum death benefit is paid to the rightful claimants. 

The following persons are eligible for the benefit in the order listed below, regardless of inheritance law:
a) the spouse, if living, otherwise:
b) the persons or person supported to a substantial extent by the deceased
– who lived permanently with the deceased in the last five years preceding the latter’s death or
– who must provide for one or more children born of their union, provided that they are not drawing a widow’s or widower’s pension (Art. 20a BVG), if living, otherwise:
c) the children of the deceased, if living, otherwise:
d) the parents or siblings of the deceased, if living