During the three-day ‘Pensioen3daagse’, we discussed various topics with employees. They frequently asked us about pension for surviving dependants. No matter what phase their lives or careers are in, employees want assurance as to how the pension fund will take care of their partners and children if that should ever be needed. Here’s what we told them.

If you pass away, your partner will be entitled to partner pension. NN CDC Pensioenfonds will pay your partner this pension until he/she passes away. For every year that you participate in the pension fund, you build up partner pension at 70% of your annual old age pension accrual. Will that be enough for your partner to be able to stay in your house? Everyone’s situation is different, but NN CDC Pensioenfonds’ partner pension will in any case ensure your partner has a good basic income.

Partner pension
Partner pension is paid out as follows, if at the time of your passing away:

• You are a participant: your partner’s pension will be equal to 70% of the old age pension that you built up until the day of your passing away, plus the old age pension you would have been able to build up from the date of your passing away until your retirement.
• You are no longer employed or you are a pensioner: your partner’s pension will be equal to 70% of the old age pension that you built up until the day of your passing away.

Important note: If you get married, or enter into a registered partnership or a shared household with your partner after the starting date of your retirement, your partner will not be entitled to partner pension.

Special partner pension
If you and your partner decide to end your relationship, your ex-partner will receive a special partner pension after you pass away. If you were married or registered partners, your ex-partner will, in addition, be entitled to half of your old-age pension that was built up while you were still together. If you and your partner do not want this, the two of you can make a deviating agreement in writing.

Orphans’ pension
You also build up orphans' pension for your children. For every year that you participate in the pension fund, you build up orphans’ pension at 14% of your annual old age pension accrual.
Orphans’ pension is paid out as follows, if at the time of your passing away:

• You are a participant: your orphans' pension is equal to 14% of the old age pension that you built up until the day of your passing away, plus the old age pension you would have been able to build up from the date of your passing away until your retirement.
• You are no longer employed or you are a pensioner: your orphans’ pension is equal to 14% of the old age pension that you built up until the day of your passing away.

Important note: The total amount of orphans’ pension paid out to all of your children cannot exceed 70% of your old age pension. If your children have no parents, their orphans’ pension is doubled. In that case, the total amount of orphans’ pension paid out to all of your children cannot exceed 140% of your old age pension.

Supplemental benefits
If you pass away, your partner might also be entitled to receiving benefits from the Dutch State under the Surviving Dependants Act (ANW). Note that certain conditions apply. The ANW is administered by the Social Insurance Bank (Sociale Verkeringsbank). More information is available at www.svb.nl.

Extension and end of orphans’ pension
NN CDC Pensioenfonds pays out orphans' pension until the month in which your child turns 18. The right to receive orphans’ pension can be extended, for example if the child goes to school or runs the family household. This entitlement ends on the last day of the month in which your child turns 27.

Important note: If you leave employment, you cease to build up orphans’ pension.

Further information
Would you like to read more about surviving dependants’ pension? Visit the pension fund’s website for practical information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Pension Desk staff by telephone or email. We’re here to help you.