Security for your family
We hope, of course, that you will retire in good health, and that you can enjoy your pension for years to come. But what if you pass away? In that situation, it is nice to know that everything is well organised for your partner and children, if applicable. Even with the new pension rules.
Choose your situation and read how it works
This is how it will soon work
What if you pass away? Do you have a partner? Your partner will receive a benefit from us: the partner’s pension. Do you also have children? In that case, each child will receive an orphan's pension. Under the new rules, your salary determines the amount of the partner's pension and the orphan's pension. Another important change: in principle, you are no longer insured for the partner's pension and orphan's pension when you leave the sector. It is important to be aware of this. Below, you can read in which situations the insurance will nevertheless remain active. Any partner’s or orphan’s pension you have already accrued under the old scheme will be retained.
Your partner and children will receive the following if you pass away
- While you are working in this sector:
- If you pass away, your partner will receive 20 percent of the salary that counts towards your pension, plus the partner’s pension that you may have accrued under the old scheme. Together, these will form the lifelong partner’s pension. This means that your partner will receive a monthly benefit for as long as they live.
- In addition, your partner will receive a temporary benefit of 5,000 euros per year. While you continue to work, this amount will increase each year in line with wages in the sector. This temporary benefit will stop as soon as your partner reaches the state retirement age. This means your partner will not receive this part for life.
- Each child will receive 10 percent of the salary that counts towards your pension. If their other parent has also passed, each child will instead get 20 percent. In addition, your children will receive the orphan's pension that you may have accrued under the old scheme. The monthly benefit will stop when your child reaches the age of 25.
- When you retire:
- Once you have retired, the partner's pension becomes 50 percent of your pension as standard. Just like now. Alternatively, when you retire, you and your partner can also make a different choice for how to distribute your pension. The partner's pension is paid from the pension pot you have accrued. If you do not have a partner when you retire, the pension will automatically increase for you and there will be no partner’s pension.
If you want additional security for your partner
Under the new scheme, you can also opt for a temporary additional partner's pension (also known as the surviving dependants’ shortfall pension). You or your employer will pay a monthly premium for this insurance. Under this scheme, your partner will receive an additional benefit if you pass away, i.e. on top of the normal partner’s pension, and on top of any surviving dependants’ benefit from the government. The temporary additional partner’s pension will continue until your partner reaches the state retirement age.
If you leave the sector
What if you leave the sector? The insurance for the partner’s pension and the orphan’s pension will continue for a maximum of six months, without you having to pay for it. If you find a new job within those six months, the insurance with PME will end automatically. Make sure you check whether you are also accruing a pension with your new employer, and whether the partner’s pension and orphan’s pension are properly organised there.
If you receive unemployment or sickness benefits, the six-month period will not apply. The partner's and orphan's pensions will remain insured for as long as the benefit continues, with a maximum of two years. This will give you peace of mind.
What if you want to continue to accrue a pension with PME after you leave the sector? In that case, you can continue to voluntarily participate in the scheme for a maximum of 3 years (or even 10 years if you have your own company). This may be useful if you do not have immediate prospects of a new job, if your new employer does not offer a compulsory pension scheme or if you begin to work for yourself. However, you will then pay the entire contribution yourself. If you are receiving an unemployment benefit, PME will pay part of the contribution.
You can also opt to continue only the insurance for the partner’s pension and, if the law later enables this, the orphan’s pension. Just let us know. From that moment on, we will deduct the costs from your pension pot.
Security for your partner
What if you pass away? Do you have a partner, and have you accrued a partner’s pension with us in the past? Then your partner will receive that partner’s pension. Log in to the website to see how high the partner’s pension is. If you are currently working in a different sector, you may also be accruing a partner’s pension there.
Once you have retired, the partner's pension becomes 50 percent of your pension as standard. Just like now. Alternatively, when you retire, you and your partner can also make a different choice for how to distribute your pension. The partner's pension is paid from the pension pot you have accrued. If you do not have a partner when you retire, the pension will automatically increase for you and there will be no partner’s pension.
Security for your children
What if you pass away? Do you have children, and have you accrued an orphan’s pension with us in the past? Then your children will receive that orphan’s pension. The benefit will stop when your children reach the age of 25. Log in to the website to see how high the orphan’s pension is. Are you currently working in another sector? In that case, an orphan’s pension may have been arranged for your children there as well.
Security for your partner
What if you pass away? Do you have a partner, and did you opt for a partner’s pension when you retired? Your partner will receive a benefit from us: the partner’s pension. Your partner will receive this monthly benefit for as long as they live.
The arrangements for this will remain in place. For example, if you opted for a partner’s pension that is 50 percent of your own pension when you retired, that will not change at all.
If you get a partner after your pension has come into payment, you will not be able to register your partner for the partner’s pension afterwards.
Security for your young children
What if you pass away? Do you have young children? In that case, just like now, your children will receive a monthly benefit from us: the orphan’s pension. Each child will receive 14 percent of your pension. If their other parent has also passed, each child will instead get 28 percent. In addition, your child will receive the orphan’s pension that you have accrued under the old scheme. The benefit will stop when your child reaches the age of 25.
If you have opted for additional security for your partner
You may have opted for a temporary additional partner’s pension for your partner (also known as the surviving dependants’ shortfall pension). This means your partner will receive an additional benefit if you pass away in the new scheme as well, i.e. on top of the normal partner’s pension, and on top of any surviving dependants’ benefit from the government. The temporary additional partner’s pension will continue until your partner reaches the state retirement age. Your partner will therefore not receive this benefit for life.
If you did not opt for a temporary additional partner’s pension with PME during your working life, you will not be able to choose this option.
Increase or decrease
The partner's pension and the orphan's pension can be increased or decreased once a year from the start. This works the same as your pension, with the same protective measures. As a result, while the risk of falls will not be ruled out, it is likely to be limited.
What does this mean for you?
PME is looking to transition to the new pension rules on 1 January 2027. You will receive a provisional overview from us in October or November 2026. In it, we will show how your pensions compare under the old and new rules. The partner's pension and orphan's pension will also be included in the comparison. This will show you the difference and let you know what to expect. You will receive a final overview from us in 2027.
Cohabiting? Let us know!
With the new pension rules, something else will change as well. It will become much clearer who is actually considered a partner in the context of the partner's pension. All pension funds and insurers will use the same rules for this. In the new scheme, you are considered a partner:
- if you are married;
- if you have a registered partnership;
- if you have a notarial cohabitation contract and share it with us;
- if you draw up a cohabitation certificate with your partner and share it with us; or
- if your partner draws up a cohabitation certificate after your death and shares it with us.
Did you get married in the Netherlands? Or do you have a registered partnership? In that case, we will automatically be informed by the municipality, just like now. You don’t have to do anything. Are you getting married abroad? Or do you have a notarial cohabitation contract? In that case, you should register your partner with us. This was necessary previously and will continue to be necessary.
The cohabitation certificate is a new addition to the law. As mentioned above, your partner can also submit it to us after your death. However, this can be pretty rough while they are still grieving. That is why our advice remains to let us know immediately if you live together.
Do you receive a partner’s pension?
No pension for any potential new partner has been reserved with PME. Do you have a job? Check what has been arranged through your employer for your family in the event of your death.