(2021) What is the bereavement allowance?

Widows, widowers, orphans, and half-orphans can apply for a bereavement allowance of 370 Euro. They must have been granted ongoing bereavement payments.

These must be provided under the Federal Pensions Act or another law that declares the provisions of the Federal Pensions Act on bereavement payments to be applicable, under the statutory accident insurance regulations, under civil service regulations to the bereaved of a civil servant who died as a result of a service accident, or under the provisions of the Federal Compensation Act on compensation for damage to life, body, or health.

Please note: An orphan receives the bereavement allowance only once, even if both parents are deceased. If there are several bereaved persons of the same individual (e.g. widow and half-orphan), each bereaved person is entitled to the allowance.