Survivor’s Pension Calculator 2026

How high is the widow’s or widower’s pension – and how much of your own income is counted? Under Sections 46, 97 SGB VI

As of September 2026Basis: Sections 46, 67, 97, 242a SGB VI, Section 18b SGB IVCalculated in your browser – nothing is stored

€

Gross per pension notice – or the disability pension from the last pension information

years

Large survivor's pension from age 46 and 6 months (death in 2026, Section 242a(5) SGB VI)

Sets the age limit: 46 years and 6 months in 2026, 47 years from 2029

€

Counts after a 40% flat deduction

€

Gross; counts after a 14% flat deduction

Orphans and special cases0 children entitled to orphan's pension

Increase the allowance per child

Large survivor's pension per month

first 3 months: €1,600.00

€880.00

€880.00

After the first three months you receive 55% of the deceased's pension: €880.00 per month. Your income is below the allowance and is not counted.

First three monthsFull pension, no income test (Sections 67, 97 SGB VI)
€1,600.00
Survivor's pension before income test55% of the deceased's pension
€880.00
Your countable incomeGross minus flat deduction under Section 18b SGB IV
€1,032.00
Allowance26.4 × current pension value (€42.52), + 5.6 × per orphan
€1,122.53
Counted40% of income above the allowance
− €0.00
Survivor's pension after income test
€880.00

Good to know

  • Amounts before health and care insurance

    Health and long-term care contributions are still deducted from the survivor's pension; it is also partly taxable.

  • Simplified calculation

    The calculator derives the survivor's pension from the deceased's pension. In case of early death, the pension insurance adds supplementary periods; the exact amount is in the pension notice.

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How the survivor’s pension is calculated

After a spouse dies, there is a large survivor’s pension if you have reached the age limit (death in 2026: 46 years and 6 months, from 2029: 47 years), raise a child under 18 or have reduced earning capacity – otherwise the small survivor’s pension for up to 24 months (Section 46 SGB VI). The deceased must have completed the general qualifying period. The same rules apply to widowers.

For the first three months after the month of death, the full pension of the deceased is paid. After that the large survivor’s pension is 55% of the pension, 60% in old cases (Section 255 SGB VI), the small one 25% (Section 67 SGB VI). Own income is counted where it exceeds the allowance after flat deductions – 40% of the excess (Section 97 SGB VI).

Income test 2026

  1. 1Allowance26.4 × current pension value: €1,122.53 per month from 1 July 2026, plus €238.11 per child with orphan’s pension.
  2. 2Flat deductions40% is deducted from gross pay, 14% from your own statutory pension (pension start before 2011: 13%), Section 18b SGB IV.
  3. 340% counted40% of income above the allowance is deducted from the survivor’s pension.
  4. 4Not in the first three monthsNo income is counted during the first three months.

Worked examples 2026

Widow, 60, own pension €1,200, pension of the deceased €1,600
First three months
€1,600.00
Large survivor’s pension (55%)
€880.00
Own pension after 14% flat deduction
€1,032.00
Allowance
€1,122.53
Survivor’s pension (nothing counted)
€880.00
Widower, 45, one child under 18 with orphan’s pension, own pay €3,000, pension of the deceased €1,400
Large survivor’s pension (55%)
€770.00
Pay after 40% flat deduction
€1,800.00
Allowance (€1,122.53 + €238.11 for the child)
€1,360.64
Counted: 40% of €439.36
€175.74
Survivor’s pension after income test
€594.26

What the calculator simplifies

The calculator derives the survivor’s pension from the pension the deceased received or would have received as a disability pension. If death occurs before retirement age, the pension insurance adds supplementary periods and may apply reductions – the exact amount is in the pension notice. Amounts are gross: health and long-term care insurance are still deducted. Your own pension is estimated by the pension calculator.

Frequently asked questions about the survivor’s pension

Amount, allowance and income test

How high is the German survivor’s pension?

The large survivor’s pension is 55% of the deceased’s pension, 60% in old cases (married before 2002 and one partner born before 2 January 1962). The small survivor’s pension is 25% and is paid for at most 24 months. For the first three months the full pension is paid.

What is the allowance for the survivor’s pension in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, €1,122.53 per month (26.4 × the current pension value of €42.52), plus €238.11 for each child entitled to an orphan’s pension. What counts is income after flat deductions.

Is my own pension counted against the survivor’s pension?

Yes, after a flat deduction of 14% (pension start before 2011: 13%). If the rest exceeds the allowance, 40% of the excess is deducted from the survivor’s pension.

From what age is there a large survivor’s pension?

It depends on the year of death: the limit rises step by step from 45 to 47 (Section 242a(5) SGB VI). For a death in 2026 it is 46 years and 6 months, 2027 46 years and 8 months, 2028 46 years and 10 months, from 2029 47 years. Younger survivors receive it if they raise a child under 18 or have reduced earning capacity (Section 46(2) SGB VI).

Do widowers get the same pension?

Yes. Widower’s and widow’s pensions follow the same rules, including the income test.