Death of a close family member

You can use the same application to apply for a surviving spouse’s pension from an employment pension institution and Kela. The easiest way to submit the application is to send it online.

Send your application for the surviving spouse’s pension to one of the following places:

• e-service of the employment pension institutionOpens in a new window.
• OmaKelaOpens in a new window.

The payment of the surviving spouse’s pension starts from the beginning of the month following the date on which your spouse died and it can be paid retroactively for a maximum period of six months.

Surviving spouse’s pension is taxable income and a pension income deduction is made from it in your taxation. After your pension application has been approved, you may have to request a new tax card in MyTaxOpens in a new window..

The Finnish Tax Administration will notify Kela and the institution paying your earnings-related pension of your new withholding tax rate.

The surviving spouse’s pension paid by the employment pension institution amounts to a maximum of 50% of the earnings-related pension paid to your spouse.

If you spouse died when still in working life, they were not yet receiving any earnings-related pension. In that case, your surviving spouse’s pension is calculated on the basis of the pension that your spouse would have received if they had become incapacitated on the date of their death.

The amount of your surviving spouse’s pension depends on

• the amount of your spouse’s pension
• the number of children you have
• your own pension security.

The property of the widow(er) is not considered when the surviving spouse’s pension is calculated.

If you are still in working age and you do not have any children aged under 18, you will receive a full surviving spouse’s pension for six months as starting pension. In that case, your own pension security is not considered when the amount of the surviving spouse’s pension is calculated. The amount of your surviving spouse’s pension is also adjusted when you retire on earnings-related pension.

If you were aged over 65 or were receiving an earnings-related pension when your spouse died, your surviving spouse’s pension is reduced from the start. However, no reductions are made to your surviving spouse’s pension as long as you have children aged under 18 as dependants and these children receive orphan’s pension.

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 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.

Kela will grant you a starting pension of EUR 383.30 for a period of six months. The amount is the same for all those eligible for the pension.

If you receive a national pension or a corresponding pension from a foreign country that is lower than the starting pension, Kela will only pay the difference as starting pension.

You may also be eligible for a continuing pension after the starting pension. The continuing pension consists of

• the basic amount (EUR 120.06/month)
• the supplement, the amount of which depends on the other income and family relationships of the widow(er).

Eligibility for the basic amount depends on whether the deceased person or the widow(er) has children aged under 18.

Your income or assets are not considered when the starting pension or the basic amount of the continuing pension are calculated.

Read here whether you are eligible for the surviving spouse’s pension paid by Kela and check the amounts and payment dates.Opens in a new window.

The duration of the surviving spouse’s pension paid by the employment pension institution depends on your year of birth as follows:

• If you were born before 1975 or your spouse died before 1 January 2022, you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension for the rest of your life.
• If you were born in or after 1975, you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension for ten years. However, you will receive the surviving spouse’s pension at least until the youngest of your children receiving orphan’s pension reaches the age of 18.

The employment pension institution will stop paying you the surviving spouse’s pension if you remarry under the age of 50.

Surviving spouse’s pension paid by Kela the duration depends on the year of your birth and the date on which your spouse died as follows:

• If you were born before 1975, you may be eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65.
• If you were born in or after 1975 and your spouse died before 1 January 2022, you may be eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension until you reach the age of 65.
• If you were born in or after 1975 and your spouse died on or after 1 January 2022, you are eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension for ten years or at least until the child living with you reaches the age of 18. However, you are no longer eligible for a surviving spouse’s pension after you have reached the age of 65.

Kela will stop paying you surviving spouse’s pension if you remarry under the age of 50.