If the spouse is deceased, widow’s pension can be applied for in most cases. How a mini-job is credited depends on the income limit.
Hamburg – Many pensioners try to earn a few euros with a job in addition to receiving their pension. Depending on your income, this can lead to a reduction in your pension. But how does a job count towards the widow’s pension? Are there already threats of cuts with a mini-job? 24hamburg.de explains how the widow’s pension is offset against your own pension and what payments can be expected.
| All of the 16 institutions of statutory pension insurance according to the Social Code (SGB): | German Pension Insurance (DRV) |
| Founding: | 1. October 2005 |
| Insured: | 56.771.213 (Stand: 31.12.2020) |
| Employees: | 61.000 (Stand: 30.6.2022) |
The widow’s pension supports surviving dependents financially
The death of a spouse is traumatic for many consumers in Germany. In addition, the death places a heavy financial burden on the bereaved. Costs that were previously shared must now be borne alone. However, many surviving dependents are entitled to the death quarter, during which three months’ pensions from the deceased are paid to the surviving dependents. The so-called widow’s pension can then be applied for.
Like the child-raising pension, the widow’s pension is one of the pensions due to death. It is currently paid out to around 4.5 million women in Germany. Widowers are also entitled to the widow’s pension, which is only colloquially known – in Germany 700,000 men receive the pension. The amount of the widow’s pension depends on the age of the surviving dependents. What consumers have to consider: There is a financial limit for receiving the widow’s pension – if too much is earned, it can be reduced.
Will the widow’s pension be reduced by a mini job?
Since July 2022, widows and widowers have been able to earn more than in the previous year in addition to their survivor’s pension. This includes wages or even an old-age pension that you have already received. The exempt amount set by the German pension insurance is 950.93 euros in the West – previously it was 902.62 euros. In the east, the allowance is lower and is 937.73 euros instead of the previous 883.61 euros. Anyone who is below this income limit does not have to expect a reduction in their widow’s pension.
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The exempt amount is even increased for each child who is entitled to an orphan’s pension after the death of the spouse. With one child, the allowance would increase by EUR 201.71 to a total of EUR 1152.64. Anyone who runs a mini job can earn up to 520 euros per month. If there is no additional income, the widow’s pension will not be reduced. If the widow or widower has additional income from other jobs or a retirement pension, the widow’s pension may be reduced.
