Your partner receives a pension if you die
Your family situation has been considered in the pension plan. If you die, your partner will receive a partner's pension. You can find the level of your partner's pension on your Uniform Pension Overview (UPO). In My Planner you can see what the consequences are for the partner's pension if you want to retire early or make a different pension choice.
Partner’s pension
The pension plan takes account of your family situation. This means that your partner will receive a partner’s pension if you die before your retirement date. Your children may receive an orphan’s pension if you die before your retirement date.
Please note: if your (full-time) salary is higher than € 137.800 (in 2024), no partner’s pension is insured on the part of your salary above this amount.
How much is the partner’s pension?
How we calculate partner's pension is best explained with an example.
John was 40 years old when he came to work at Mars. He died suddenly at the age of 48, while he was still employed at Mars, so 20 years before he would have retired. At the time of John’s death, his pensionable salary was € 45,000. How much partner's pension could his wife Monique expect to receive? First of all, we have to calculate his pensionable salary:
- Pensionable salary: € 45,000
- Adjusted for AOW benefit: € 20,000 (notional)
- Pension base: € 25,000
- Assume: the partner's pension is 1.16% per year in which you could have participated in the ARP/ASP plan until your retirement date. In this example, this is 1.16% of € 25,000 = € 290 per year.
John had already accrued a partner's pension for 8 years. He could have accrued partner's pension for another 20 years between his 48th and 68th birthday. So in total 28 years. His partner is therefore entitled to a partner's pension of 28 x € 290 = € 8,120.
If you die while in employment
If you die while in employment and before your retirement date, your partner will receive a partner's pension. We calculate this as if you had continued to work at Mars until your retirement date.
If you die after leaving employment
Your partner will also receive a partner’s pension if you die after leaving employment but before your retirement date. In this case, your partner will receive a benefit that depends on the capital you have accrued in your ARP and ASP accounts at Mars. An indication of the potential amounts is shown in your Uniform Pension Overview (UPO).
If you die after you retire
If you wish your partner to also receive a pension if you die after you retire, this is possible. You will use part of your capital for this to purchase a partner's pension. Your partner will receive this pension from your death for as long as he/she lives. If you wish to do this, you will receive a lower retirement pension, as you will have less capital left over for a retirement pension. This is a decision you make when you retire.
We cannot say at this point how much this partner's pension will be. An indication is however given in your UPO and in MyMarsPension.
Anw benefit
In some cases, surviving relatives will receive a survivor’s pension benefit from the government under the Surviving Dependants Benefits Act (Anw benefit). This is subject to certain conditions. Further information on Anw benefit is available on the website of the Sociale Verzekeringsbank: www.svb.nl.
Frequently asked questions
Your partner is eligible if:
- you are married before your retirement date, or
- you are in a registered partnership established before your retirement date, or
- you have a cohabitation agreement that has been notified to the pension fund at least six months prior to your death and was established before your retirement date.
Your former partner has a legal right to a special partner's pension. This will be paid to your former partner when you die. The special partner’s pension is the partner’s pension accrued during your relationship.
