Human resources
Surviving partner and children’s pensions: changes to the scheme
Under the current pension scheme, you accrue a ‘partner’s pension’ and an ‘orphan’s pension’. The amount payable depends on how much pension you have accrued. If you stop building up pension with ABP, for example, because you leave the university, the partner’s and orphan’s pension you have accrued will remain in place.
Partner’s pension
What will change from 2027?
From 2027, the partner’s pension will be based on a risk insurance scheme. This means you will no longer accrue a partner’s pension in the way you are used to. Instead, the partner’s pension will be set at 41% of your pensionable income. The amount is reviewed annually and may therefore increase or decrease.
The following changes will also apply:
- Your partner will be covered from your first day of work.
- If you leave your job before retiring, the cover will end after three months. Please bear this in mind if you change jobs. There are various options for extending the cover. Contact ABP for further information.
When is your partner entitled to a partner’s pension?
Whether your partner is entitled to a partner’s pension depends on your circumstances.
- If you are married in the Netherlands or are in a registered partnership, your partner is automatically entitled to a partner’s pension. You do not need to do anything; the municipality will pass this information on to ABP.
- If you are married abroad and/or live together abroad, you will need to register your partner yourself in MijnABP.
- If you live together, you can register your partner using a cohabitation agreement (samenlevingscontract). From 1 January 2027, you will also be able to register your partner using a declaration of cohabitation (samenlevingsverklaring) confirming that you share a household.
- If you do not live together but do have a cohabitation agreement, you can still register your partner. As of 1 July 2025, you no longer need to live at the same address to register your partner. This may be the case, for example, if you or your partner lives in a care home.
Orphan’s pension
Under the current scheme, you also build up an orphan’s pension for your children. The amount payable depends on how much pension you have accrued. If you die, your children will receive this benefit until they reach the age of 25.
What will change from 2027?
From 2027, the orphan’s pension will also be based on a risk insurance scheme. The amount payable will be reviewed annually and may increase or decrease. The orphan’s pension will be a fixed percentage of your pensionable income:
- 7% for each child;.
- 14% per child if both parents have died.
The following changes will also apply:
- Your children will be fully covered from your first day of work.
- There will no longer be a maximum number of children entitled to an orphan’s pension.
- All children and stepchildren will be entitled to a full orphan’s pension until the age of 25.