When someone dies, grief and loss are not the only consequences. Death can also affect the financial situation. An income in the family disappears but most expenses are still there. The Swedish survivor's pension is based on Swedish conditions and acts as a financial security that will cover part of the income previously contributed by the deceased.
The requirement for being entitled to a Swedish survivor's pension is that the deceased person has worked or lived in Sweden at some point. The survivor's pension is based on the deceased person’s pension base that he or she earned in Sweden.
If the deceased has a low pension base in Sweden, the survivor's pension will also be low. This applies regardless of whether the survivor receives a low pension or no pension at all in the country where he or she lives.
If the death is due to occupational disease, an accident at work, or on the way to or from work, the estate may receive funeral assistance. If you are a surviving spouse or child, you may also be entitled to a survivor's annuity.
How to receive a survivor's pension if you live in Sweden
When the Swedish Pensions Agency receives information that someone living in Sweden has died, we investigate whether or not there are survivors who are entitled to a survivor's pension without you having to apply. In some cases, we will send you a letter to get additional information and then make a decision.
Survivor's pension if you live outside Sweden
If you are resident outside Sweden in an EU or EEA country (EEA is the EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), you must apply to the pension authority in the country where you reside. The pension authority in that country then sends an application to Sweden if the deceased person has previously lived and/or worked in Sweden.
If you live outside the EEA or Switzerland, you must request it yourself by using an application form. Sweden has signed social security agreements with a number of countries outside the EEA, these agreements can affect which pension you receive and which country you should apply from. Contact customer service if you have questions regarding what applies to the country you live in. Forms for survivors living outside Sweden
If you plan to move or already live outside Sweden, it is good to find out what applies to taxes, change of address and the life certificate that is sent to you once a year. Pension when you move from or live outside Sweden
Survivor's pension consists of the following parts
There are various benefits within the survivor's pension. Depending on whether you are a child, married, registered partner or widow, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Report a change in your circumstances
Keep in mind that you are obliged to report changes, for example if you receive a pension from a country other than Sweden, end your studies, remarry or move. If you have an extended adjustment pension, you need to report to us if you move, no longer live with children or if your marital status changes as this may affect your survivor's pension. It is important that you report changes, in order to make sure that you do not miss out on higher compensation or do not receive too much and need to make a repayment. Please contact our customer service in order to notify us of your changes.
Survivor’s guide
In cooperation with the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, we have developed a survivor's guide to make it easier for those who have lost someone. It describes, for example, where you should start when a relative has died, what can wait a few months, and the years after that. Survivor’s guide (Efterlevandeguiden.se) in Swedish
Compensation in the event of work-related death
If a death occurred as a result of an occupational injury, you as a survivor may receive an annuity and the deceased person’s estate can receive funeral assistance. Occupational injury includes occupational disease, accidents at work and accidents on the way to or from work. The same applies if the death occurred during, for example, a stay in custody or prison. The annuity acts as a financial support.
There are three types of annuities: child annuity, adjustment annuity and widow annuity. Each annuity is calculated on the working income of the deceased at the time of death and is aimed at compensating part of the loss of income in the household. The annuities paid from us at the Swedish Pensions Agency may not in total be greater than the deceased person’s earnings. In addition to annuity, the estate may also be entitled to a lump sum for funeral assistance. Funeral assistance application form (in Swedish)