Survivors benefits

Parental pension

WHO IS ENTITLED TO A PARENTAL PENSION?

A parent or grandparent (hereinafter jointly referred to as "parent") who is a person with changed working capacity (up to 50% health condition) at the time of the death of a child or grandchild or who is over 65 and was predominantly dependent on the child or grandchild for the year before the death, i.e. the parent has lost their supporting family member with the death of the child, may be entitled to a parental pension.

The parental pension is further conditional on the deceased having been in receipt of a pension in their own right or having acquired the service period required to be entitled to a pension.

A parent who reaches the age of 65 or becomes a person with changed working capacity within ten years of the death of their child and has no dependants who are able and obliged to maintain them is also entitled to a parental pension.

A foster parent may be entitled to a parental pension only if they have supported the foster child for at least 10 years. 

In what circumstances is a retired parent considered a predominantly dependent parent?

A parent can be considered a predominantly dependent parent if their pension does not exceed the minimum amount of the old age pension at the time of the death of their child (grandchild).

When does the parental pension start?

The parental pension is payable at the earliest from the date of the death of the child (grandchild) for the duration of the changed working capacity or for the rest of the parent's life. If the claim is made more than six months after the death of the child (grandchild), the parental pension may be established from the first day of the sixth month preceding the claim.

Amount of the parental pension

If the parent does not have a pension in their own right, the parental pension is 60% of the pension that the deceased was receiving or would have received at the time of death.

If the parent is in receipt of a pension in their own right, the parental pension is 30%.

If more than one person is entitled to the parental pension, it is divided equally between them.

How to claim a parental pension

The claim for a parental pension must be made on the form provided for the purpose, by post, in person or by electronic means. The claim must be submitted to the government office competent for the place of residence of the applicant or, if the deceased was a pensioner, to the Pension Payment Directorate. The claim may also be lodged at a government office.

The date of the application is the date on which the application form is submitted or posted.

The procedure for making a claim is free of duties and costs.

What to attach with the claim?

In the case of a claim for changed working capacity, please attach a medical opinion or a statement from a rehabilitation expert or a specialist authority certifying the health condition.

In the absence of this, the application must be accompanied by the medical documents necessary to establish the state of health, i.e. a referral letter containing summary information on the state of health, treatment and rehabilitation, a medical opinion on the change in working capacity or serious disability, a medical opinion on the ongoing care, treatment and current state of health, and any other medical documentation relating to the above circumstances (e.g. medical result, hospital discharge summary), on the basis of which a medical examination of the applicant can be initiated.