Applying for a widow's or widower's pension

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

Payment of the pension: If the deceased person
- already received their own pension, your widow's or widower's pension will begin at the earliest in the month following the death.
- If the deceased did not yet receive a pension of their own, your widow's or widower's pension begins on the date of death.

Application deadlines:
Submit the application no later than 12 calendar months after the date of death.
If you apply later, the pension will only start from the month of application.

How long does it take to process

Small widows' and widowers' pensions: usually 4 months.
Large widows' and widowers' pensions: usually 3 months.

Note: If your partner has already received a pension, you can apply for an advance payment in the first 30 days after the death. To do this, contact the Deutsche Post Pension Service with the death certificate and submit the formal pension application later. You must be registered as a surviving dependant on the death certificate.

What are the costs?

There are no costs.