Inclusion, Equality and Social Welfare

A Contributory Widow/er’s Pension is granted to a person who meets the required conditions, as stipulated under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.), after the death of a spouse, partner, or former spouse/partner.
 

Information regarding cross-border situations can be found here.

A Contributory Widow/er’s Pension is paid every four (4) weeks in advance.

A Contributory Widow/er’s Pension is due as from the day following the spouse’s/partner’s or ex-spouse/ex-partner’s date of death.

There are three categories of Contributory Widow/er’s Pension:

1. NMWP – National Minimum Widow’s Pension, which is awarded if the deceased spouse/partner was receiving a National Minimum Retirement Pension.
2. ESRP – Early Survivors Pension, which is awarded if the deceased had not yet started receiving a retirement pension.
3. SRP – Survivors Pension, which is awarded if the deceased was already receiving a two-thirds retirement pension.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

A widow or widower who has not yet reached retirement age may qualify for a Contributory Widow/er’s Pension if:

• The deceased spouse/partner (or former spouse/partner) satisfied the minimum contribution requirements at the time of death.

• The pension is paid in full, even if the widow/er works full-time. 

• If the widow/er remarries, a flat-rate pension applies instead.

• A widow/er engaged in employment must pay Social Security Contributions if their earnings from their employment exceed the National Minimum Wage.  

• If earnings from employment are below the National Minimum Wage, the widow/er may choose not to pay contributions.

• Working widow/er remain eligible for the pension. Since 2018, those with dependent minor children may also receive additional benefits such as Sickness Benefit.

• Widow’s pension this year includes the €10 Budget increase (€4.66 COLA + €5.34 additional increase).

• As from 2026, if beneficiaries of a Widow/er’s Pension have children under 18 or if still eligible for Children’s allowance is up to 23 years, the pension will increase by €20 per child, as outlined in Article 31B of the Social Security Act.

Survivor’s Pension When the Deceased Was Receiving a Contributory Pension

A widow/er below retirement age may be entitled to a proportion of the deceased’s pension:

• Entitlement until 2021: Calculated as 5/9 of the deceased’s 2/3 pension (0.555555).
• The Widow/er’s Pension Rate from 2022 onwards:  Gradually increasing over six (6) years, reaching 0.64814 in 2026.
• In case of a Remarriage: A widow/er who remarries may qualify for a remarriage widow’s pension, provided they were previously receiving a widow’s pension (Article 40).
• Single rate payment of NMWP upon remarriage:  The rate is calculated based on Part 3 average contributions.
• In case of pre-2007 remarriages: Since 2013, for those who remarried before 2007 is eligible for the flat-rate widow’s pension.
• In cases of subsequent remarriages: If a widow/er receiving a flat-rate pension remarries and the second spouse later dies, the more advantageous pension, that is that either for the first or second spouse, is awarded.
• Where there are work-related deaths: If the spouse died due to a work-related accident, the widow/er receives at least the full flat rate.
• General entitlement: Widow/er’s pension is payable regardless of children or employment status.

Working while receiving the Pension
Widow/er may work full-time or part-time and keep their pension:

• Full-time employment: No employment-related bonuses are paid by DSS.

• Part-time employment: Bonuses are paid on a pro-rata basis by the employer and any difference in bonuses is issued by the DSS.

• Self-occupied: Statutory bonuses are paid directly by the DSS.

• Since 1 January 2024, all Widow/er’s Pensions are exempt from taxation. As a result, any FSS tax deductions previously applied to the Widow/er’s Pension will no longer be withheld by the Department of Social Security.
   

Widow/er Reaching Retirement Age
A widow/er who is already receiving their own Contributory Pension may switch to a widow/er’s pension if:

• The late spouse’s pension was at a higher rate: In this case the widow/er receives the full rate of the late spouse’s pension.
• The late spouse’s pension was at a lower rate: In such cases the widow/er continues to receive their own current pension rate.

Documentation Required

• In cases of separated persons: A signed and insinuated Separation Deed.

• In cases of cohabitation: 
  - For registered cohabitations: A registered and insinuated Certificate of Cohabitation. 
  - For unregistered cohabitations during 2017 and 2020: Evidence of at least ten (10) years of   cohabitation before the partner’s death is required.

• In cases of a civil union: A registered and insinuated Civil Union Certificate.
• Ensure that your banking details held by the Department of Social Security are updated to receive payments by direct deposit in a bank. The IBAN number should be a local savings or current account, but not a loan account. The indicated account must be in the name of the beneficiary only. It is never suggested to make use of a joint bank account, since when one the couple passes away, the bank automatically closes the bank account from their end. Banking details may be updated on mySocialSecurity.

Once a death is registered with the Public Registry, Health Services, or the Department of Social Security, the DSS automatically begins assessing eligibility for a widow/er’s pension if applicable.

A Notification Letter may be sent to the prospective widow/er to request missing information, which generally is to confirm the IBAN for payment of the Widow/er’s Pension, which must be completed and returned to the Department of Social Security for continuation of the process, otherwise the process will be halted.

However, there are instances when a widow/er may need to submit an application themselves if:

• The spouses were separated or have been re-married and no automatic notification is issued.
• DSS records are outdated with regards to postal address, preventing delivery of the notification letter to confirm the IBAN.
• The widow/er prefers to apply before receiving the notification letter.
   

The Notification Letter or the Widow/er’s Pension application must reach the DSS within six (6) months of the date of death of the late spouse/partner. If submitted later, the pension is awarded from the first Saturday after submission, not from the date of death.

In such cases the widow/er is to fill in and submit the application online.