Serviceportal–Baden-Württemberg
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Procedure descriptions
Apply for an orphan's pension
A distinction is made between half and full orphan's pensions. You receive a half-orphan's pension if one parent is still alive and a full orphan's pension if both parents are deceased.
The half-orphan's pension is 10 per cent and the full-orphan's pension is 20 per cent of the insured person's pension to which the deceased parent would have been entitled or was already receiving.
You will receive a supplement to both the full and half-orphan's pension based on the pensionable periods completed by the deceased parent or parents. If an orphan is entitled to several half-orphan's pensions, only the highest one will be paid.
If the parent or parents die before reaching the age of 65, the orphan's pension is reduced by a deduction. This reduction can be up to 10.8 per cent.
Orphan's pensions are paid until the orphan's 18th birthday. Under certain conditions, the orphan's pension can be paid until the orphan reaches the age of 27.
No income is taken into account for orphan's pensions.
Note: If you adopt an orphan who is already receiving an orphan's pension, they will continue to receive it. It will continue to be paid unchanged even if the orphan marries.
Responsible department
German Pension Insurance
Details
Prerequisite
Surviving dependants receive an orphan's pension from German Pension Insurance if the deceased parent or parents have fulfilled the general qualifying period of five years.
This includes:
- Contribution periods, both compulsory and voluntary contributions,
- Substitute periods,
- Child-raising periods,
- Periods from pension equalisation and pension splitting,
- Periods of marginal employment with contributions paid by the employer and
- Additional earnings points for earnings from marginal employment exempt from compulsory insurance.
The following are entitled to an orphan's pension
- natural or adopted children of the deceased person ,
- Stepchildren and foster children who lived in the deceased person's household and
- Grandchildren and siblings who lived in the deceased person's household or were mainly supported by the deceased person,
if they:
- are not yet 18 years old or
- are not yet 27 years old and:
- are in school or vocational training for more than 20 hours per week,
- are doing voluntary service or
- are unable to care for themselves due to a physical, mental or psychological disability.
- An orphan's pension can also be paid for transitional periods of a maximum of four calendar months, for example between two training programmes.
- An orphan's pension entitlement may be extended beyond the age of 27, for example if the person has previously completed voluntary military service during the probationary period.
Procedure
You can submit your application online, in person or in writing.
Online application:
- On the German Pension Insurance (DRV) website under "Online Services" you will find detailed information on the process.
- If you follow the "Submit application" link, you will be guided through the next steps and can select the application you require.
- Alternatively, you can use the online service with registration. This allows you to see straight away which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data you already know.
- Complete the pension application form in full and upload the required documents.
- Submit your application online and you will then receive a confirmation of submission.
- Once the relevant pension insurance provider has processed your pension application, you will receive a notification.
Personal application:
- Compile the necessary documents for your application and make an appointment with Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
- When making an appointment online, your personal details and, if possible, your insurance number will be required.
- You can select a counselling centre and your preferred date. Depending on the availability of free appointments, you will receive a suggestion for a counselling appointment.
- During the counselling session, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online.
- The relevant pension insurance provider will process your application and you will then receive a decision.
Written application:
- Visit the DRV website.
- Download the required application form.
- You can also collect the form in person from the information and advice centres.
- Complete the application form, sign it and attach the required documents.
- Send all documents
- by post to your pension insurance provider or
- hand them in at one of the local advice centres.
- The responsible pension insurance provider will check your application.
- You will receive a decision on your application.
A person you trust can also submit your pension application on your behalf. Please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance fund for this purpose. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance company will only contact the person you have authorised.
If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can take place online. You can either use the electronic mailbox under online services with registration or De-Mail.
Deadlines
- Retroactive payment of the orphan's pension: up to 12 calendar months before the month of application
Required documents
- Application for orphan's pension
- Identity document such as identity card, passport, birth certificate or family register,
- Death certificate of the deceased parent
- if applying for an orphan's pension for an orphan of full age:
- Proof of education or vocational training or
- Proof of voluntary service.
Costs
none
Processing time
Processing takes up to three months. Once all the necessary application documents have been submitted, the pension insurance provider will make a prompt decision.
Miscellaneous
If there is an accident insurance case, for example an accident at work, an orphan's pension can also be paid by the employers' liability insurance association. There are different requirements and calculation bases in this case.
Legal basis
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 07.01.2025