The widow’s pension is a monthly benefit transferred to the surviving spouse after the death of a employed person. The widow’s pension is paid regardless of the beneficiary’s gender. For example, if a female employee dies, the pension is paid to her spouse; the same applies if a male employee dies. Although it has sometimes been assumed that only women can receive this pension, that has never been the case. Both men and women can qualify for this benefit.
One of the main requirements to receive a widow’s pension is that the deceased spouse worked within the public sector. If the deceased worked for a private company, unfortunately their spouse may not be eligible for this pension. Another important condition is a minimum public service period of five years. If the deceased worked in the public sector for less than five years, the surviving spouse is generally not entitled to the pension.
The amount paid to the surviving spouse is not arbitrarily set by the state; it is calculated based on the salary the deceased person received while alive. Therefore, the pension amount varies according to the deceased’s earnings.
What Is an Orphan’s Pension?
An orphan’s pension is a monthly benefit paid by the state to a child whose mother or father has died. The rules differ between daughters and sons. For a daughter to qualify, the deceased parent must have worked in the public sector for at least ten years. In addition, the daughter must be unmarried and not employed in the public sector; if she marries or begins public employment, the pension is discontinued.
If you wish to avoid termination, the orphan’s pension can, in some cases, be transferred to another eligible sibling; however, that sibling must also meet the required conditions. For sons, the eligibility rules also include a minimum service period for the deceased parent and are otherwise the same as for daughters. Male children may receive the orphan’s pension up to age 25, provided they are enrolled in university; when they reach the age limit or complete their education, the pension is stopped.
How Much Is Paid?
The amount paid for widow’s and orphan’s pensions is determined by reference to the salary the deceased person received while alive. Because the pension is calculated based on the deceased’s earnings rather than a single fixed rate set by the state, the exact amount varies and cannot be stated as a universal figure.