Benefits in Finland in the event of bereavement

Following bereavement, family members can get a survivors’ pension from Kela, earnings-related pension institutions, and in certain situations also from, for example, motor insurance companies. Survivors’ pensions, such as surviving spouses’ pensions and orphans’ pensions, are intended to secure the livelihood of families. If the deceased person was insured in Finland, a survivors’ pension can be paid to their surviving spouse and children even if they live abroad.

You can get survivors’ pension from Kela or the earnings-related pension system. You can get a surviving spouse’s pension from Kela and the earnings-related pension system at the same time, and they can also be granted to cohabiting partners.

A Kela surviving spouse’s pension consists of a starting pension and a continuing pension. A survivor's pension payable on the basis of a death occurring in 2022 or later is for a fixed period if the survivor was born in 1975 or later. However, a Kela survivor's pension ends when you turn 65 at the latest. Read more on Kela’s website.

Pension providers pay surviving spouse’s pensions without any age limit, but surviving spouse’s pensions paid on the basis of a death in 2022 or thereafter are for a fixed term if the surviving spouse was born in 1975 or later. Surviving spouse’s pensions paid by pension providers are based on the earnings-related pension earned by your spouse as an employee or self-employed person in his or her lifetime, but may be reduced by your income. Read more on the website Työeläke.fi.

Kela pays a basic amount and an additional amount to the orphan's pension to persons aged under 18 years. If the young person is studying, Kela continues to pay the basic amount until the person reaches the age of 21 years. This is also called an orphan's pension for students. Read more on Kela’s website.

Pension providers grant orphan’s pensions to young persons under the age of 20 years. The pension is based on the earnings-related pension earned during the guardian’s lifetime. Read more on the website Työeläke.fi.

A surviving spouse or orphan may also be entitled to a survivors’ pension or assistance pension under an accident, motor third party, military accident, military injury or patient insurance plan. Surviving spouses and orphans may also be entitled to lump-sum compensation from a group life assurance policy if the deceased was employed when he or she died. Read more on Kela’s website.

If the deceased had private pension insurance or life insurance, the pension provider may provide financial support in the event of the death of a spouse or guardian. Ask the pension provider for more information. 

If the deceased person worked in another Nordic country during their lifetime, their surviving spouse and children may be entitled to a survivors’ pension from these countries too. Read more below.

More information