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Surviving dependants' pension in the new pension scheme

It may not be a nice thing to think about, but what will happen when you pass away? You will want to be sure your partner and children are left well cared-for. Provisions have therefore been arranged for them in Bpf Koopvaardij's new pension scheme. We refer to those provisions as the partner’s and orphan’s pension (and together as the 'surviving dependants' pension'). This page discusses the relevant arrangements and the differences between the partner’s and orphan’s pension in the current and new pension schemes.  

Partner's pension: what is different in the new scheme?

The arrangements for the partner's pension are different in the current and new pension schemes:

  • Under the current scheme, the partner's pension is based on the number of years during which have you built up pension with Bpf Koopvaardij. You make contributions, and so your pension gets slightly higher every month.
  • In the new pension scheme, it does not matter how many years you have built up pension with Bpf Koopvaardij. The partner's pension is no longer an amount that has been built up, but a percentage of your salary.

The partner’s pension from 2026

How much pension your partner receives in the new scheme depends on when you pass away. 

What if you pass away before your retirement date?
Then this is the amount of the partner's pension in the new scheme:

  • Your partner will receive 25% of the salary on which you are building up pension for as long as your partner lives.
  • What if you have already built up partner's pension before 2026? Then we will convert that pension to the new scheme. We will add this amount to the above amount.

Your partner is entitled to this as long as you build up pension with Bpf Koopvaardij, and they will receive the partner's pension monthly after your passing. 

What if you pass away after your retirement date?
Then your partner will usually also receive a partner's pension. This amounts to 70% of the occupational retirement pension that you are receiving at that time. That is also the case in the current pension scheme.
You can also opt for a higher or lower partner's pension for after you retire, but you must make the choice before you retire.

Special partner's pension from 2026

If you have been divorced or separated, your ex-partner may be entitled to a special partner's pension. This is the part of the partner's pension you built up before the end of the relationship, unless your ex-partner has waived their entitlement to it.  

In the new pension scheme, your ex-partner will only receive the special partner's pension if you die after you have retired. If you die before you retire, your ex-partner will not receive a special partner's pension in the new pension scheme. 

What if you built up a special partner's pension before 2026? Then we will convert it to the new pension scheme, and your ex-partner will receive it if you pass away.

Orphan's pension: what's different in the new scheme?

If you have children, they may receive a benefit from Bpf Koopvaardij if you pass away. The arrangements for the orphan's pension are somewhat different in the current and new pension schemes:

  • Under the current pension scheme, the orphan's pension is based on the number of years during which you have built up pension with Bpf Koopvaardij and the occupational retirement pension you built up. Your children are entitled to an orphan's pension until they are 18, and until 27 if they are studying.
  • In the new pension scheme, it does not matter how many years you have built up pension with Bpf Koopvaardij. Your children will always be entitled to an orphan's pension until the age of 25. The orphan's pension is no longer an amount that has been built up, but a percentage of your salary.

Orphan's pension from 2026

How much pension your children will receive in the new scheme depends on when you pass away. 

What if you pass away before your retirement date?
Then this is the amount of the orphan's pension in the new scheme:

  • Your children will receive 10% of the salary on which you are building up pension until they are 25.
  • What if your partner or ex-partner has also passed away? Then your children will receive 20% of the salary on which you are building up pension until they are 25. 
  • What if you were already building up orphan's pension before 2026? Then we will convert that pension to the new pension scheme. We will add the amount to the above amounts.

What if you pass away after you’ve retired?
Then this is the amount of the orphan's pension in the new scheme: 

  • Your children will receive 14% of the occupational retirement pension you were receiving at the time until they are 25.
  • What if you were already building up orphan's pension before 2026? Then we will also convert that pension to the new pension scheme. We will add this amount to the above amount.

Frequently asked questions

New job or leaving employment? 
Important! If you leave your employment and are not covered by another pension scheme, then the insurance for the partner's pension will continue for a maximum of 6 months. That is longer than the legally required 3 months.

What if you have a new job with a pension scheme? 
If so, the pension scheme does not usually need to continue, because a partner's pension will often be insured for at your new employer. Check this with your new employer.

What if you do not have a new job within 6 months? 
Then you can continue to insure for the partner's pension yourself. This is called voluntary continuation. You then pay the contribution for the partner's pension yourself. You need to submit a request for this to Bpf Koopvaardij. It is therefore important to think about your partner's pension when changing jobs.

If you are or become occupationally disabled (with non-contributory continuation), the surviving dependants' pension will remain insured for the portion over which you have been building up non-contributory pension (if you pass away before your retirement date).

Good to know: in the event of occupational disability, your own pension build-up usually goes down to a maximum of 80% if you are fully disabled. Nothing changes as regards the partner's pension – it will remain the same.

The partner’s and orphan’s pension that you are building up in the current pension scheme will be automatically transferred to the new scheme. We will add the built-up pension to the partner’s and orphan’s pension in the new scheme. Everything that you have already built up will be kept.

If you are married or in a registered partnership, we will automatically receive your partner's details from your local municipality. You do not need to do anything yourself.

If you are living together with a cohabitation contract (samenlevingsovereenkomst) or declaration, you must register your partner with us yourself. You can easily do that in My Koopvaardij or by post. In My Koopvaardij, you can also immediately see if your partner is already registered with us.

You can see the amount of the partner's pension in a number of places. It appears, for example, on your Uniform Pension Overview (UPO). This is an overview of your pension that you receive from us once a year. You can also always see it in My Koopvaardij.

Good to know: the partner’s pension you see there now is the partner’s pension that you have built up in the current pension scheme, i.e. the scheme that applies until the end of 2025.

When you retire, you can opt to increase the partner's pension. You do that by exchanging part of your occupational retirement pension. The other way around is also possible, i.e. you exchange the partner's pension for a higher occupational retirement pension for yourself. Your partner must give permission for this, however. If you do not have a partner, the partner's pension will be automatically exchanged for a higher occupational retirement pension. Good to know: this option will continue to be available in the new pension scheme.

Find out more

You can find the amount of the partner's and orphan's pension in My Koopvaardij.
You can find more information about our new pension scheme at New pension system. You can find information about our surviving dependants' pension in the current scheme at What if you pass away. Do you have any other questions? If so, we will be happy to assist you. Please feel free to contact us.