Survivors often receive fewer pensions than expected



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After the death of a partner, the survivor's pension sometimes turns out to be much lower than expected. As they do not have enough on their heads, widows and widowers are also found in financial problems. Women in particular expect a drop in their income, which can sometimes be quite spicy.

Changes in circumstances cause confusion for those who have lost a loved one because they do not know exactly how these complex survivor pensions work. Pieter Omtzigt (CDA), a member of the Lower House, has been studying the issue recently and has addressed widows and widowers with financial concerns. Today, he launches a note of initiative.

The survivor's pension includes a number of components: the Algemene Nabestaandenwet ANW (a national insurance), a pension fund benefit and additional insurance policies. We give you an example of a calculation.

The rules have become different

It is important to know that the necessary changes have been made to each component over the last thirty years. For example, since 1996, only surviving parents with children under 18 or partially surviving who are unemployable receive a benefit. Anyone who earns more than the social minimum is also cut off.

In this context, pension funds have changed the way they accumulate and pay the survivor's pension, says Omtzigt. Previously, this was done on a "build-up" basis, whereas it is often based on risk.

Loss of entitlement

In the first variant, survivors receive a pension anyway. In the second variant, survivors receive money only if the partner dies before the pension and is still employed by the same employer.

Especially if you change jobs, you can lose a lot of rights to a survivor's pension, says Omtzigt to RTL Z. "This can save you half or two-thirds of your pension."

You will only know if your partner has already died

This happens, for example, if your new pension fund calculates the survivor's pension based on risk. "It's not known when your partner is dead," says Omtzigt, who advocates for uniform plans for all pension funds.

Calculation example

Netspar, institute of knowledge on pensions and old age analyzed at the end of last year already that there are problems surrounding the survivor's pension. In a letter, they give the following example:

A man and a woman both work part-time, for 80%. With that, they earn 1.6 times the modal. They already have a child, but when the second is born, the mother dies.

They have a life insurance policy for the mortgage, but because the man earns enough himself, he is reduced to the ANW. The survivor's pension at the employer's employer accounts for 28% of his income. There is currently no possibility for the employer of the man to work anymore.

Income before death:

Male: 28,000 euros
Female: 28,000 euros
Total: 56,000 euros

After death:

Male: 28 000 euros
ANW profit: 3.400 euros
Survivor's pension: 7.840
Total: 38.640

Women in particular are the victims. They are on average younger than their male partner when they get married and live longer. For this reason, there are more widows than widowers.

What is the survivor's pension?

The survivor's pension was introduced because the man was a breadwinner. If he had to die unexpectedly, the family could never afford enough money.

In the meantime, these family support households are an exception, but especially with families where both partners work part-time or families with the highest incomes. . Many costs for single-parent families are just as high as for two-parent families and other households made up of several people.

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