After the death of a partner, money is often the last thing you want to think about. Yet it is important: household costs continue and some benefits you have to actively apply for. They do not start automatically.
ANW: the statutory scheme
The Algemene nabestaandenwet (ANW) is a benefit from the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to a surviving partner. Not everyone qualifies; the conditions are restrictive.
Eligibility for ANW
You qualify if at the moment of your partner's death you:
- have not yet reached the state pension age (AOW age);
- and either care for a child of your own under 18;
- or are at least 45% incapacitated.
In addition, the deceased partner must have been AOW-insured (as a rule: lived or worked in the Netherlands). And your own income must be below a threshold (otherwise the benefit is reduced or zero).
How much is the ANW?
The full ANW is around 1,665 euro gross per month (early 2026). It is reduced by:
- 50% of work income above the free allowance (first around 1,115 euro of work income exempt);
- 100% of income from other benefits (e.g. WW, WIA);
- if you go above a total cap: ANW lapses entirely.
If you have a child under 18 in your home, an additional half-orphan supplement of about 18% of the ANW is added.
Applying for ANW
You apply via Mijn SVB with DigiD. You provide: details of your partner, the death certificate, details of your own income. The SVB decides within 8 weeks. If you receive a refusal but believe you are entitled, you can object within 6 weeks.
Survivor's pension via the pension fund
Beyond the ANW you may be entitled to a survivor's pension via the deceased's pension fund. This falls under the employer's pension scheme and the rules vary per fund.
Two types
- Accrual-based survivor's pension: linked to the years the deceased accrued. Often runs lifelong, even if you have no child.
- Risk-based survivor's pension: only valid if the deceased was still actively participating at the time of death (for example still employed). Often stops on a job change, which means many people think they have a survivor's pension when it has actually lapsed.
Orphan's pension
If the deceased left minor children, an orphan's pension is often available too, until age 18, 21 or 27 (depending on the fund). A child in education can be entitled longer.
Applying
The pension fund usually receives the death automatically via the population register and writes to you. If you have not received anything within 4 weeks, contact them via Mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl where you can see all funds the deceased was a member of.
One-off death benefit
If the deceased was working at the time of death, you are often entitled to a one-off death benefit from the employer of one month gross salary. This is in the collective agreement or employment terms. Ask the employer explicitly.
If the deceased was no longer working but was on a benefit (WW, WIA, ZW, AOW), there is sometimes also a one-off payment. UWV and SVB usually pay it within a few weeks of the death without an application.
Order of applications
Roughly stick to this order in the first 4 weeks:
- Employer: report the death, request the one-off benefit and possibly the survivor's pension via the collective scheme.
- SVB: apply for ANW via Mijn SVB.
- Pension fund(s): check via Mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl which funds should contact you, contact them yourself if they stay silent.
- UWV if the deceased was on a benefit.
- Insurer(s): report life insurance and funeral insurance.
Tax on survivor's pension
Survivor's pension and ANW are taxed as wages. The pension provider and the SVB usually withhold payroll tax. You may have to top up or reclaim through your income tax return the following year.
Need help?
Nalenta builds a timeline of all benefits you can apply for, plus the right contact details per pension fund. For 129 euro one-off.