When a spouse dies, the survivor's pension (Witwen- bzw. Witwerrente) replaces part of the lost income — but only 55 % of the deceased's pension is forwarded, and 40 % of the survivor's own income above the allowance is then subtracted. To see what actually arrives each month, use our widow's pension calculator — it works out the three-month grace period, the deduction and the benefit duration in seconds.
Large vs. small Witwenrente
The Social Code distinguishes two entitlements — the large and the small survivor's pension:
| Feature | Large Witwenrente | Small Witwenrente |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | 55 % of deceased's pension | 25 % of deceased's pension |
| Eligibility | Age 47+, dependent child under 18, or full reduced earning capacity | Marriage 12+ months, no entitlement to large pension |
| Duration | Lifelong | 24 months (post-2002 rules) |
| Death before 2002 | 60 % instead of 55 %, lifelong | Lifelong, 25 % |
Couples widowed before 2002 (or married before 2002 with a partner born before 1962) keep the historical 60 % under the old regime — the 2001 reform reduced new cases to 55 %.
Sterbevierteljahr: three months at 100 %
For the first three calendar months after the spouse's death, the survivor receives the full gross pension of the deceased — without any income deduction (§67 No. 6 SGB VI). The transitional period cushions the financial shock; only afterwards does the regular 55 % or 25 % apply.
Example: if the husband's pension was €1,500, the widow receives €1,500/month in the first 3 months and only €825 (55 %) from month 4 onwards — minus the income deduction.
Income deduction: the biggest lever
The actual amount of your survivor's pension hinges on your own income. Rules: §97 SGB VI and §§18a–e SGB IV. Rule of thumb:
Survivor's pension = base pension − (own net income − allowance) × 40 %
2026 allowances (West, as of 1 July 2025):
- Base allowance: €1,038.05/month (East: aligned to the same value)
- Per dependent child eligible for an orphan's pension: +€220.49/month
Allowances are dynamised every 1 July using the current pension value (aktueller Rentenwert).
Worked example: widow with employment income
Anita is 52, widowed for 4 months. Her late husband had a pension of €1,500. She works part-time, earning €1,800 net per month, and has a 14-year-old child at home.
- Type: Large Witwenrente (age 47+) → factor 55 %
- Base pension: €1,500 × 0.55 = €825/month
- Allowance: €1,038.05 + €220.49 = €1,258.54
- Deduction: (1,800 − 1,258.54) × 0.40 = €216.58
- Survivor's pension: 825 − 216.58 = €608.42/month
During the first 3 months Anita received the full €1,500 (Sterbevierteljahr).
Which income counts?
Counted is the monthly net income (gross minus a flat 40 % for employment, with graduated deductions for pensions):
- Employment income (wages, salary, self-employment) — flat 60 % counted as "net"
- Own pensions (statutory, occupational, private) — usually 87 % counted
- Investment income (rent, interest, capital) — flat 75 %
- Short-time-work, unemployment, sick pay — counted as wage replacement
Tax-free benefits (child benefit, parental allowance base, BAföG) and the survivor's pension itself are not counted.
When does the pension end?
- Remarriage — entitlement ends; one-off settlement equal to 24 monthly pensions
- Death of survivor
- Small Witwenrente: after 24 months (deaths from 2002)
- Registered partnership or remarriage → see remarriage
Eligibility in detail
- Minimum marriage: 12 months. Exception: fatal accident or unforeseen serious illness (the assumption of a "Versorgungsehe" can be rebutted).
- Waiting period of the deceased: 5 contribution years (60 months) — waived for work-related death.
- No remarriage at time of application.
- Apply at the Deutsche Rentenversicherung — backdating limited to 12 months.
Common mistakes
- Late application — backdating capped at 12 months.
- Missing the advance — the Sterbevierteljahr advance must be requested separately at Renten-Service Post.
- Forgetting your own pension — own statutory pensions also count toward the deduction.
- Failing to rebut the Versorgungsehe presumption — for marriages under 12 months the DRV often denies; evidence (illness post-marriage, long pre-marriage relationship) helps.
Optimisation tips
- Choose pension splitting — splitting accumulated entitlements may pay off when own pension is low. See the retirement gap calculator.
- Build private cover — survivor's pension rarely covers cost of living. The Riester-Rente or early-retirement calculator help close the gap.
- Get a pension statement early — free from the DRV; combine with the early-retirement calculator for scenarios.
- Watch social security — health insurance continues as KVdR; check contributions in the social security calculator.
Related calculators
- Widow's Pension Calculator — amount, deduction and duration
- Retirement Gap Calculator — how much is missing in old age?
- Early Retirement Calculator — deductions for retiring before 67
- Riester Pension Calculator — subsidies and tax breaks
- Social Security Calculator — contributions in retirement
- Inheritance Tax Calculator — spouse and child allowances
- Parental Allowance Calculator — for survivors with infants