Pension to widows and widowers

The two graphs below present data on the average monthly amount of survivor’s pension in the Nordic countries where this policy is still in effect.

In Denmark, a special survivor’s pension no longer exists, and therefore there is not data on this topic.

The data presented is adjusted with the purchasing power standard (purchasing power parity/Euro) to enhance the comparison of the average monthly benefits. Using the purchasing power standard, it is possible to compare values more directly than when using the national currency.

Comparing the two graphs, it is noticeable that the average monthly benefit is higher for widows than for widowers in all the Nordic countries. 

In Iceland, the average amount is almost the same for both widows and widowers. 

In Sweden, the difference between widows and widowers has decreased over the years, and today the average amount is almost identical.  

In both Norway and Finland, the average amount has remained higher for widows than for widowers.

Pensions to widows and widowers were abolished in 2007. A survivor’s allowance is payable to non-pensioners upon the death of their spouse or partner. The survivor’s allowance is income- and capital-adjusted and is a one-time payment.

A widow’s/widower’s pension is payable via the disability pension system. To receive this benefit, the recipient must have been married upon the death of their spouse and have children under the age of 18. 

Upon losing a spouse, pensioners may be paid a survivor’s pension on a short-term basis, corresponding to three months’ pension.

A family pension may be granted if marriage took place before the surviving spouse turned 65 and s/he had children by the deceased. For couples with no children, marriage must have taken place before the surviving spouse turned 50 and must have lasted more than five years. Similar rules apply to those in registered partnerships. Widows and widowers are entitled to the survivor’s pension by way of basic pension/guaranteed minimum pension and employment pension/earnings-related pension. 

Since 2022, those born in 1975 or later who become widows/widowers in 2022 or later, will be paid a surviving spouse’s pension for a maximum of 10 years or until the youngest child turns 18. Common-law spouses are also entitled to a surviving spouse’s pension if they have shared a household with the deceased for at least 5 years and they have a minor child together.

The survivor’s pension has been abolished as a basic pension, but it is still paid via the employment pension system.

The survivor's pension system in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme was reformed with effect from 2024. Survivors are no longer granted a survivor's pension, but a allowance adjustment benefit that initially ceases three years after death. The benefit is granted to those who lose their spouse, partner or cohabitant with a common child. A condition for receiving the benefit is that during the benefit period one is active with the aim of becoming self-sufficient. Special rules apply to survivors who lost their spouse, partner or cohabitant before 2024 and were granted a survivor's pension before this time.

The current widow’s/widower's pension will naturally lapse for most survivors. Widows and widowers are entitled to the adjustment pension by way of a basic pension/guaranteed minimum pension and an employment pension/earnings-related pension. The adjustment pension is paid for one year. If the widow/widower has children, the adjustment pension can be extended. The adjustment pension ends when the surviving spouse qualifies for the basic/guaranteed minimum pension under the old-age pension scheme. 

Under the old system, a condition for being awarded the widow’s pension was that marriage had taken place no later than 1989. Widows are entitled to the widow’s pension by way of a basic pension/guaranteed minimum pension and an employment pension/earnings-related pension. The basic pension/guaranteed minimum pension is revoked when the widows qualify for the basic/guaranteed minimum pension under the old-age pension scheme.