For Citizens - Service Finder
Apply for a half-fledged or full orphan's pension
In the case of the orphan's pension, a distinction is made between the half-orphan's pension and the full orphan's pension. You receive a half-orphan's pension if a parent liable for maintenance is still alive, a full orphan's pension if both parents liable for maintenance have died.
The half-orphan's pension is 10 percent, the full orphan's pension 20 percent of the insured pension to which the deceased parent would have been entitled or which he has already received.
You will receive a supplement for both full and half-orphan's pensions, which is based on the pension periods completed by the deceased parent or parents. If an orphan is entitled to several half-orphans' pensions, only the highest is paid.
If the parent or parents died before the age of one, the orphan's pension is reduced. For deaths before 2012, this age limit was 63 years. From 2012, the age limit will be gradually raised from 63 to 65 years until 31.12.2023.
Orphans' pensions are paid regularly until the orphans' 18th birthday. Under certain conditions, you can receive the orphan's pension until you reach the age of 27.
Since 1 July 2015, no income has been credited to orphans' pensions.
Note: If you adopt an orphan who is already receiving an orphan's pension, she will continue to receive it. It will continue to be paid unchanged even if the orphan marries.
You can apply for the orphan's pension in writing, in person or via online procedure:
Written application:
- Download the application and investment form for the orphan's pension on the website of the German Pension Insurance. Fill it out completely and compile the required documents.
- You can complete and sign your completed and signed application with the required documents either:
- send by post to your pension insurance institution, or
- in one of the local counselling centres.
Application via online procedure:
- Go to the online portal of the German Pension Insurance. Log in there with your signature card, your identity card (if electronic proof of identity is activated) or your electronic residence permit.
- Fill out the form and upload the necessary documents. After that, submit your pension application online.
Personal application in the consultation:
- Compile the necessary documents for the application and make an appointment at an information and advice centre of the German Pension Insurance.
- In the consultation, your pension application is usually recorded electronically and forwarded online.
Note: Your pension application can also be made by a person you trust. To do so, please submit a corresponding power of attorney to your pension insurance institution. As long as the power of attorney is valid, your pension insurance institution will only contact your authorised person.
Surviving children receive an orphan's pension from the pension insurance institution if the deceased parent or parents have completed the general waiting period of 5 years. These include:
- Contribution periods (compulsory and voluntary contributions),
- replacement times,
- child-rearing periods,
- periods of pension equalisation and pension splitting between spouses,
- periods of marginal employment with payment of contributions by the employer, and
- Supplements to pay points for remuneration for minor occupations exempt from compulsory insurance.
The following are entitled to an orphan's pension:
- biological or adopted children of the deceased,
- stepchildren and foster children who were admitted to the household of the deceased, and
- grandchildren and siblings who were taken into the household of the deceased or were predominantly cared for by him/her,
If you:
- are not yet 18 years old or
- are not yet 27 years old and:
- are in a school or vocational training of more than 20 hours per week,
- do voluntary service, or
- cannot take care of themselves because of physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
- An orphan's pension may also be paid for transitional periods of a maximum of four calendar months, for example between two training courses.
- Beyond the age of 27, an extended orphan's pension entitlement may arise, for example through the prior performance of voluntary military service during the probationary period.
- valid identity card or passport
- Birth or parentage certificate of the child
- Death certificate of the deceased parent
- when applying for an orphan's pension for an adult orphan:
- proof of education or vocational training, or
- Proof of completion of voluntary service.
- if applied for by other persons:
- Power of attorney or
- Order of the Court of First Instance.
There are no costs for you.
- Retroactive payment of the orphan's pension: up to 12 calendar months before the month of application
If all necessary application documents are available, the pension insurance institution will make a timely decision.
Forms: yes
Online procedure possible: yes
Written form required: yes
Personal appearance required: no
If there is an accident insurance case (for example, an accident at work), an orphan's pension can also be paid from the accident insurance. There are other prerequisites and calculation bases here.
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)