Death of a close family member

Surviving spouse’s pension is part of survivors’ pension and it is paid by employment pension institutions and Kela.

If you are a surviving cohabiting partner, you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension paid by an employment pension institutionOpens in a new window., if the following conditions are met.

• your cohabiting partner died on or after 1 January 2022
• your cohabitation began before your partner reached the age of 65
• your cohabitation had lasted for an uninterrupted period of at least five years when your partner died
• you and your partner have a common child aged under 18 who has lived in the same household with you and your partner
• neither of you has been married to other persons.

Check whether you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension.Opens in a new window. You will be officially notified of your eligibility for a surviving spouse’s pension when you apply for the pension.

Use the calculator to estimate your surviving spouse’s pension.Opens in a new window.

If you are a surviving cohabiting partner, you may be eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension paid by KelaOpens in a new window., if the following conditions are met:

• you are aged under 65
• your cohabiting partner died on or after 1 January 2022
• your cohabitation began before your partner reached the age of 65
• your cohabitation had lasted for an uninterrupted period of at least five years when your partner died
• you and your partner have a common child aged under 18 who has lived in the same household with you and your partner
• neither of you has been married to other persons.

You may be eligible for a starting pension and a continuing pension of the surviving spouse’s pension.

If your cohabiting partner was in working age at the time of their death and was at work or on sick leave, you may be eligible for a lump sum compensation under the group life insurance policy for employees. The amount of the compensation depends on your cohabiting partner’s age and the number of children you have together.

Employers use different names for group life insurance policies:

• If your cohabiting partner was employed by central government, you can apply for the benefit equivalent to a group life insurance compensation from the State Treasury (the document is in Finnish).Opens in a new window.
• If your cohabiting partner was employed by local government, you can apply for financial support from Keva.Opens in a new window.

If your cohabiting partner was employed outside central or local government, send the claim for group life insurance compensation to the Employees’ Group Life Assurance PoolOpens in a new window..

If your cohabiting partner died in an occupational accident or of an occupational disease, you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension and for a funeral allowance paid from the occupational accident and disease insurance taken out by the employer if specific conditions are met. Read more about the compensations on the website of the Finnish Workers’ Compensation Center.Opens in a new window.

Depending on the cause of your cohabiting partner’s death, you may apply for a survivors’ pension, care pension or other benefits under the following insurance policies:

• accident insurance
• traffic insurance
• military accident insurance
• military disability insurance
• patient injuries insurance.

Your cohabiting partner may also have had other insurance policies making you eligible for compensation, such as life insurance or travel insurance.

If the insurance policies provide you with adequate income security, you may not necessarily be eligible for the survivors’ pension supplement paid by Kela. The insurance compensation payments may also be considered when your earnings-related pension is calculated.

Submit the applications for pension and compensations to the insurance companies in which the insurance policy was taken out.

If, as a result of your cohabiting partner’s death, you have become the single parent of children aged under 18, you may be eligible for single parent supplement for child benefit paid by Kela.

If you are a low-income earner, you may also be eligible for general or pensioner’s housing allowance. You may also be eligible for social assistance to cope with temporary financial difficulties.

If you alone or you and your cohabiting partner together have a housing loan protection insurance, the outstanding loan will be partially paid from this insurance policy. Contact the bank granting the loan to check the details of the insurance policy.

Widow(er)s and single parents in difficulties can also get help from the social services provided by parishes and many organisations. Receiving help does not usually require that you are a member of the church or the organisation in question.