Married or in registered partnership
Insured persons who live in a registered partnership with their partner are treated equally by married couples.
If a married, resp. a spouse who is an active or disabled insured person in a registered partnership, active or disabled insured dies, his or her partner is entitled to a lifetime spouse's pension if at least one of the following conditions is met:
a) the partner is caring for at least one dependent child; or
b) FSOPP has reached the age of 45 and has been married for at least five years.
A surviving partner who does not fulfil either of these conditions is entitled to a one-off settlement equal to three annual pensions. The period of a life partnership is calculated as the period of marriage, resp. registered partnership. In this case, the savings capital is paid out in the pension plan in accordance with the general order of beneficiaries.
Following the death of an active insured, a distinction is made between survivors' benefits during the active term of the insured's insurance and benefits after hypothetical retirement.
Up to the insured's hypothetical retirement age, the spouse's pension amounts to 60% of the temporary disability pension.
At the time when the deceased insured would have reached normal retirement age, the spouse's pension is recalculated as 60% of the retirement pension based on the conversation rate applicable at that time and the savings capital maintained in the Pension Plan.
You can find all these amounts on your pension benefits statement.
Pension reduction at a large age difference
If the partner is more than 10 years younger than the deceased insured, the calculated spouse's pension is reduced. The reduction equals 4% per full year of age difference over 10 years for each full year.
As a minimum the partner receives the minimum spouse's pension according to the FSOPP.
Remarriage
If the widowed parner remarries, the entitlement to the current survivors’ benefits via the Pension Fund Swiss Re lapses in the month following the marriage and the Pension Fund Swiss Re makes a payment equivalent to three annual pensions. On payment thereof, all claims against the Pension Fund Swiss Re shall lapse.
Spouses' pensions paid on the basis of a delayed report will be reclaimed by the Pension Fund Swiss Re.
ER Account and Capital Plan
The amount in the ER account and the savings capital or value of the fund units, whichever is higher, in the Capital Plan, as well as the insured risk capital, always become due for payment and are paid out immediately after receiving the certificate of inheritance, in accordance with the statutory order of beneficiaries.
Registration of the claim
The entitled persons must claim their entitlement from the Pension Fund Swiss Re no later than six months following the death of the insured.