Slovenia - Widows' pensions and survivors' pensions
This chapter covers widows' and survivors' pensions.
In what situation can I claim?
For payment of a pension to surviving family members, family members are entitled if the deceased insured person:
- fulfilled conditions for receipt of a pension, early retirement pension, or disability pension; or
- was already a recipient of a pension, early retirement pension, or disability pension or other rights from disability insurance.
In the instance of fulfilment of the general conditions, fulfilment of additional particular conditions is also required for the receipt of a widow's or survivor's pension.
For a widow's pension (vdovska pokojnina) the following family members are entitled:
- a surviving partner;
- a cohabiting partner (with whom the deceased insured person had lived for at least 3 years or 1 year before his/her death if they have a child together); or
- a maintained divorced spouse.
For a survivor's pension (družinska pokojnina) the following family members are entitled:
- children (legitimate, illegitimate or adopted);
- stepchildren, grandchildren or other children without parents if they have outlived the insured person;
- parents (father, mother or stepparent), if they have outlived the insured person.
What conditions do I need to meet?
In the instance of fulfilment of the general conditions, fulfilment of certain additional conditions is also required for the receipt of a widow's or survivor's pension.
Surviving family members are entitled to a survivor's pension in the case where:
- they have reached a defined age, which for the period 2014-2021 will increase to 58 (in 2021, 57 years and 6 months is the required age);
- they are completely unable to work or become unable to work within a year following the death of the insured person;
- they are caring for a child who is entitled to a survivor's pension or who is born within 300 days of the death of the insured person.
Children are entitled to a survivor's pension up to the age of 15 years, or up to the age of 18 years (if they are unemployed) or until finishing school, with an upper age limit of 26 years. A child who is completely unable to work is entitled to a survivor's pension until able to work.
Parents are entitled to a survivor's pension if they have reached the required age of 60 years on the death of the insured person or are fully unable to work.
In addition, entitled persons must have been permanently jointly resident with the deceased insured person and their income must not exceed 29% of the lowest pension base.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Widow's pension
A widow's pension amounts to 70% of the pension that the insured person was entitled to on the day of their death.
If the widow or widower has the right to their own pension, they are entitled to 15% of the widow's pension. The total sum of both pensions may not exceed the male pension amount measured from the highest pension base for 40 years of pensionable service.
Survivor's pension
|
Number of surviving family members |
Percentage of survivor's pension for base |
|
One |
70% |
|
Two |
80% |
|
Three |
90% |
|
Four or more |
100% |
For a child who has lost both parents - the insured person(s) or person(s) entitled - the survivor's pension shall be calculated according to the parent who is most beneficial, at a rate of 100% of the base.
For a larger number of children if both parents have died, two survivors' pensions will be calculated according to each at the amount of 100% of the base. Both pensions will be divided into equal shares given the number of children. If division into equal parts is not possible, the remaining sum will be given to the eldest child.
Jargon busters
ZPIZ - Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia.
Forms you may need to fill in
Request for a survivor's or widow's pension for an insured person or pensioner.
Know your rights
The links below listing your rights are not European Commission pages and do not represent the view of the Commission:
European Commission publications and web pages:
Who do you need to contact?
A request for a widow's or survivor's pension must be submitted to the ZPIZ regional unit.