Survivor's pension in the event of the death of an official

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

On the death of your spouse, you can, under certain conditions, collect a part of his retirement pension, called survivor's pension, if your spouse received or could have received a basic pension from the SRE: titleContent or CNRACL: titleContent depending on whether he was a State official or a territorial or hospital official.

We present you the information to know according to your public service of belonging (State - FPE, territorial - FPT, hospital - FPH).

This page presents the conditions for awarding a survivor's pension by the SRE or by the CNRACL.

If the deceased received or could have received one or more retirement pensions one or more other pension schemes (basic or supplementary), you can use a simulator that allows you to assess your entitlement to a survivor's pension from these other pension plans.

Reversion Right Simulator

Whatever pension plan(s) the deceased was under, you must must have been married with that person in order to be entitled to a survivor's pension.

EPF

The conditions for receiving the survivor's pension are different depending on whether you are:

  • Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried
  • Or divorced and remarried before the employee's death.

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Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried

You can benefit from a survivor's pension if you are in one the following situations:

  • One or more children are born from your marriage to the deceased (children born before the marriage, recognized by the other parent are taken into account)
  • Your marriage lasted at least 4 years
  • Your marriage was celebrated at least 2 years before the retirement of the deceased
  • The deceased was or could have been entitled to a disability pension (no term of service condition) and your marriage predates the event that led to his retirement for disability or death.

Former spouse remarried before death

You may receive a survivor's pension if your new union ended before the employee's death and you do not receive another survivor's pension.

If your new union ceases after the death of the employee, you can obtain a survivor's pension upon the termination of that new union if you do not receive another survivor's pension and if the employee's survivor's pension was not granted to another spouse or orphan.

The approach varies depending on whether the deceased official was retired or in active employment:

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Deceased in retirement

If the deceased was retired, you can submit your application for a survivor's pension on the official Retirement Info website.

This online service allows you to perform a single application valid for all basic and supplementary pension schemes to which your spouse or former spouse has contributed.

Apply for a Reversion Pension

Before starting your online process, the help tool called My supporting documents allows you to get the list of the main supporting documents you will need to attach at your request.

Obtain a list of supporting documents to attach to a retirement or reversion application

If you have not accessing a computer or network or if you do not have your social security number, you can apply for a survivor's pension using form cerfa n°11979.

This form allows you to request the survivor's pension from the SRE: titleContent (basic pension) and with the additional public service pension – RAFP (supplementary pension).

Application for reversion of pension and additional retirement following the death of a public servant, a magistrate or a retired military member

You must forward it to SRE: titleContent.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

If the deceased has worked under other statutes than civil servant (for example, as a contractor or employee in the private sector) and has contributed to pension funds other than the SRE: titleContent and the RAFP: titleContentHowever, you must apply for an additional survivor's pension from these different pension funds.

Deceased in activity

If the deceased died while still employed in the public service, you must apply for your survivor's pension from the administration that employed him.

The request is made using form cerfa n°12231. This form allows you to request the survivor's pension from the SRE: titleContent (basic pension) and with the additional public service pension – RAFP (supplementary pension).

State civil servant, magistrate or military officer who died in service - Application for survivor's pension and education or disability pension

You must attach the documents mentioned on page 2 of the form.

Warning  

If the deceased has worked under other statutes than civil servant (for example, as a contractor or employee in the private sector) and has contributed to pension funds other than the SRE: titleContent and the RAFP: titleContentHowever, you must apply for an additional survivor's pension from these different pension funds.

The survivor's pension is equal to 50% basic retirement pension from which the deceased benefited or could have benefited.

If the deceased had obtained a new retirement pension following the resumption or continuation of an activity in the context of a employment-retirement accumulation, this new retirement pension also entitles to a survivor's pension equal to 50% of its amount.

If the deceased was disabled and was or could have been entitled to a disability life annuity (due to work-related disability), you can also collect 50% of this disability life annuity.

If the deceased benefited or could have benefited from a increase in his retirement pension for having raised at least 3 children, you can also perceive 50% the amount of that increase if you have also raised the children entitled to that increase.

The annual amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the beneficiary of the survivor's pension may not be less than the amount of the solidarity allowance for the elderly (ASPA), or €12,523.14 per year.

If this is the case, the amount of the survivor's pension shall be supplemented so that the total amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the survivor's pension beneficiary is at least equal to the annual amount of the Aspa.

The survivor's pension is paid monthly and term expired.

When the deceased was retired, his retirement pension, and the lifetime disability pension if he was in receipt of it, shall be paid until the end of the calendar month during which the death occurred. Payment of the survivor's pension begins on 1er day of the following month.

When the deceased was active, the survivor's pension shall be granted from the day following the date of death.

When the deceased has been married several times, the survivor's pension is shared between the various beneficiaries:

  • The surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses, on the one hand,
  • And the possible orphans of the civil servant whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension, on the other hand.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to the surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses shall be distributed among the different beneficiaries in proportion to the respective duration of each marriage. The duration of each marriage, determined from date to date, is rounded to the lesser number of months.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to orphans is shared equally among them.

Example :

The deceased was married 3 times and leaves 2 orphans whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension.

The survivor's pension is divided for 3/5es between spouses and former spouses depending on the duration of each marriage and for 2/5es between orphans who each receive 1/5e of the survivor's pension.

Where the pension is shared between several beneficiaries, the share of the minimum pension that can be allocated to each beneficiary on the basis of his or her resources shall be calculated in proportion to the pension fraction granted to him or her.

If you live as a couple againHowever, you are no longer entitled to the survivor's pension.

If your new union is dissolved, you can apply for the survivor's pension again. You are entitled to the survivor's pension from the date of your new widowhood, divorce or separation. If orphans under the age of 21 receive the survivor's pension, the amount of their pension shall be revised accordingly.

FPT

The conditions for receiving the survivor's pension are different depending on whether you are:

  • Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried
  • Or divorced and remarried before the employee's death.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried

You can benefit from a survivor's pension if you are in one the following situations:

  • One or more children are born from your marriage to the deceased (children born before the marriage, recognized by the other parent are taken into account)
  • Your marriage lasted at least 4 years
  • Your marriage was celebrated at least 2 years before the retirement of the deceased
  • The deceased was or could have been entitled to a disability pension (no term of service condition) and your marriage predates the event that led to his retirement for disability or death.

Former spouse remarried before death

You may receive a survivor's pension if your new union ended before the employee's death and you do not receive another survivor's pension.

If your new union ceases after the death of the employee, you can obtain a survivor's pension upon the termination of that new union if you do not receive another survivor's pension and if the employee's survivor's pension was not granted to another spouse or orphan.

You can submit your application for a survivor's pension on the official Retirement Info website.

This online service allows you to perform a single application valid for all basic and supplementary pension schemes to which your spouse or former spouse has contributed.

Apply for a Reversion Pension

Before starting your online process, the help tool called My supporting documents allows you to get the list of the main supporting documents you will need to attach at your request.

Obtain a list of supporting documents to attach to a retirement or reversion application

The survivor's pension is equal to 50% basic retirement pension from which the deceased benefited or could have benefited.

If the deceased was disabled and was or could have been entitled to a disability life annuity (due to work-related disability), you can also collect 50% of this disability life annuity.

If the deceased benefited or could have benefited from a increase in his retirement pension for having raised at least 3 children, you can also perceive 50% the amount of that increase if you have also raised the children entitled to that increase.

If the deceased had obtained a new retirement pension following the resumption or continuation of an activity in the context of a employment-retirement accumulation, this new retirement pension also entitles to a survivor's pension equal to 50% of its amount.

The annual amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the survivor's pension recipient cannot be inferior to the amount of the Solidarity Allowance for the Elderly (Aspa), or €12,523.14 per year.

If this is the case, the amount of the survivor's pension shall be supplemented so that the total amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the survivor's pension beneficiary is at least equal to the annual amount of the SPA.

The survivor's pension is paid monthly and term expired.

When the deceased was retired, his retirement pension, and the lifetime disability pension if he was in receipt of it, shall be paid until the end of the calendar month during which the death occurred. Payment of the survivor's pension begins on 1er day of the following month.

When the deceased was active, the survivor's pension shall be granted from the day following the date of death.

When the deceased has been married several times, the survivor's pension is shared between the various beneficiaries:

  • The surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses, on the one hand,
  • And the possible orphans of the civil servant whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension, on the other hand.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to the surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses shall be distributed among the different beneficiaries in proportion to the respective duration of each marriage. The duration of each marriage, determined from date to date, is rounded to the lesser number of months.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to orphans is shared equally among them.

Example :

The deceased was married 3 times and leaves 2 orphans whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension.

The survivor's pension is divided for 3/5es between spouses and former spouses depending on the duration of each marriage and for 2/5es between orphans who each receive 1/5e of the survivor's pension.

The total amount of the survivor's pension, half of the invalidity pension and half of the increase for children, granted to all beneficiaries, may not exceed 50% the index salary that was or would have been used for the calculation of the deceased's retirement pension.

Where the pension is shared between several beneficiaries, the share of the minimum pension that can be allocated to each beneficiary on the basis of his or her resources shall be calculated in proportion to the pension fraction granted to him or her.

If you live as a couple againHowever, you are no longer entitled to the survivor's pension.

If your new union is dissolved, you can apply for the survivor's pension again. You are entitled to the survivor's pension from the date of your new widowhood, divorce or separation. If orphans under the age of 21 receive the survivor's pension, the amount of their pension shall be revised accordingly.

FPH

The conditions for receiving the survivor's pension are different depending on whether you are:

  • Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried
  • Or divorced and remarried before the employee's death.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Widow, widower or ex-spouse not remarried

You can benefit from a survivor's pension if you are in one the following situations:

  • One or more children are born from your marriage to the deceased (children born before the marriage, recognized by the other parent are taken into account)
  • Your marriage lasted at least 4 years
  • Your marriage was celebrated at least 2 years before the retirement of the deceased
  • The deceased was or could have been entitled to a disability pension (without length of service condition) and your marriage predates the event that led to his retirement for disability or death.

Former spouse remarried before death

You may receive a survivor's pension if your new union ended before the employee's death and you do not receive another survivor's pension.

If your new union ceases after the death of the employee, you can obtain a survivor's pension upon the termination of that new union if you do not receive another survivor's pension and if the employee's survivor's pension was not granted to another spouse or orphan.

You can submit your application for a survivor's pension on the official Retirement Info website.

This online service allows you to perform a single application valid for all basic and supplementary pension schemes to which your spouse or former spouse has contributed.

Apply for a Reversion Pension

Before starting your online process, the help tool called My supporting documents allows you to get the list of the main supporting documents you will need to attach at your request.

Obtain a list of supporting documents to attach to a retirement or reversion application

The survivor's pension is equal to 50% basic retirement pension from which the deceased benefited or could have benefited.

If the deceased was disabled and was or could have been entitled to a disability life annuity (due to work-related disability), you can also collect 50% of this disability life annuity.

If the deceased benefited or could have benefited from a increase in his retirement pension for having raised at least 3 children, you can also perceive 50% the amount of the increase if you have also raised the children eligible for the increase.

If the deceased had obtained a new retirement pension following the resumption or continuation of an activity in the context of a employment-retirement accumulation, this new retirement pension also entitles to a survivor's pension equal to 50% of its amount.

The annual amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the survivor's pension recipient cannot be inferior to the amount of the solidarity allowance for the elderly (ASPA), or €12,523.14 per year.

If this is the case, the amount of the survivor's pension shall be supplemented so that the total amount of the survivor's pension and other means of support of the survivor's pension beneficiary is at least equal to the annual amount of the Aspa.

The survivor's pension is paid monthly and term expired.

When the deceased was retired, his retirement pension, and the lifetime disability pension if he was in receipt of it, shall be paid until the end of the calendar month during which the death occurred. Payment of the survivor's pension begins on 1er day of the following month.

When the deceased was active, the survivor's pension shall be granted from the day following the date of death.

When the deceased has been married several times, the survivor's pension is shared between the various beneficiaries:

  • The surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses, on the one hand,
  • And the possible orphans of the civil servant whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension, on the other hand.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to the surviving spouse and the previous divorced spouse or spouses shall be distributed among the different beneficiaries in proportion to the respective duration of each marriage. The duration of each marriage, determined from date to date, is rounded to the lesser number of months.

The share of the survivor's pension awarded to orphans is shared equally among them.

Example :

The deceased was married 3 times and leaves 2 orphans whose other parent is not entitled to a survivor's pension.

The survivor's pension is divided for 3/5es between spouses and former spouses depending on the duration of each marriage and for 2/5es between orphans who each receive 1/5e of the survivor's pension.

The total amount of the survivor's pension, half of the invalidity pension and half of the increase for children, granted to all beneficiaries, may not exceed 50% the index salary that was or would have been used for the calculation of the deceased's retirement pension.

Where the pension is shared between several beneficiaries, the share of the minimum pension that can be allocated to each beneficiary on the basis of his or her resources shall be calculated in proportion to the pension fraction granted to him or her.

If you live as a couple againHowever, you are no longer entitled to the survivor's pension.

If your new union is dissolved, you can apply for the survivor's pension again. You are entitled to the survivor's pension from the date of your new widowhood, divorce or separation. If orphans under the age of 21 receive the survivor's pension, the amount of their pension shall be revised accordingly.

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