Survivor's Benefit
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Survivors Benefits
Are you likely to qualify for a Survivor’s Benefit?
1 |
You are under 65
or |
YES |
|
2 |
your spouse was under 65 when he or she died
and |
YES |
|
3 |
your spouse has paid at least 6 months contributions to Jersey
and |
YES |
|
4 |
your spouse died after 31 March 2001 |
YES |
|
If you answered yes to all of these statements you are likely to qualify for a Survivor’s Benefit.
Part One - What are Survivor’s Benefits?
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There are two benefits that may be paid when your spouse dies, they are:
Survivor’s Allowance
Survivor’s Pension
Whether you qualify for these benefits depends on your spouse’s contribution record.
Survivor’s Allowance
This is paid for the first 52 weeks after your spouse has died. To get this allowance either you, or your spouse, must be under pension age on the day of his or her death. Survivor’s Allowance is paid at a higher rate than Survivor’s Pension.
Survivor’s Pension
Survivor’s Pension comes into payment when Survivor’s Allowance ends. It is paid until you reach 65. When you reach 65 your benefit will change to an age related pension.
Part Two - Conditions to qualify for a Survivor’s Benefit
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Marriage Conditions
To qualify for a Survivor’s Benefit you must have been married to the person who has died. Survivor’s Benefit cannot be paid if your last marriage was dissolved by divorce or annulment. In Law you cannot become a widow or widower of that marriage.
Contribution Conditions
There are 2 contribution conditions that must be satisfied for you to get Survivor’s Benefit.
First - your spouse must have paid contributions for at least 6 months.
Second - the contributions on your spouse’s record must give at least 10% entitlement to Survivor’s Benefit. To receive a 100% Survivor’s Benefit your spouse must have a full contribution record between their 18th birthday and the month before death. If his or her contribution record is 80% paid you will be paid 80% of the standard rate Survivor’s Benefit.
For this second condition contributions paid or credited are counted. You can get credits for periods of sickness, unemployment and so on.
Part Three - Contributions paid in other countries
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Some countries have Social Security Schemes that are linked with Jersey by a ‘Reciprocal Agreement’. If your spouse made Social Security payments in one of these countries, the contributions may be counted towards the contribution conditions for a Survivor’s Benefit in Jersey or you may have some entitlement from the other country. Make sure that you fill in the section on the application form which asks about countries to which your spouse may have paid contributions. When this leaflet was printed, Jersey had Reciprocal Agreements with:
Austria |
New Zealand |
Barbados |
Northern Ireland |
Bermuda |
Norway |
Canada |
Portugal |
Cyprus |
Spain |
France |
Sweden |
Guernsey |
Switzerland |
Ireland |
United Kingdom |
Isle of Man |
USA |
Italy |
|
Part Four - Claiming a Survivor’s Benefit
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How and When to Claim
If you wish to claim Survivor’s Benefit and you have not already received a claim form, please tell us. If you need help filling in the form our staff will be happy to help you.
We must see:
- Your birth certificate
- Your spouse’s birth certificate
- Your marriage certificate
- Your spouse’s death certificate
If you do not have these certificates do not delay in sending in your claim form as you may lose some of the benefit. Benefit cannot be backdated more than six months before we receive your claim.
Appeals
If you are not satisfied with the decision of the Department, please contact the Pensions Zone.
How is your Survivor’s Benefit Paid?
Your benefit is paid 4 weekly in advance directly into an account with any recognised bank or building society. It will start on the first Thursday after you are widowed.
Receiving other Benefits
Survivor’s Benefit is not normally paid in addition to other benefits. If you are entitled to another pension or benefit you can choose to get whichever is more favourable to you.
Part Five - Rates
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Weekly Rate
The standard weekly rate of Survivor’s Benefit is shown in the leaflet entitled Contribution Levels Benefit Rates
Annual Review of the Benefit Rate
The rate of benefit is reviewed automatically on 1 October every year. We use the Jersey Earnings Index over the 12 months ending on 30 June of the same year. The benefit is increased by the same percentage increase.
Part Six - Changes in your circumstances
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You must tell us if:
- You change address
- Go abroad
- Re-marry
- Co-habit
- Are detained in prison
- Change bank accounts
Change of address
It is important that we have your correct address on our records. If there are any changes to your Survivor’s Benefit we will write to you at the address we hold on your record. If this is wrong you may not get important information.
Going Abroad
Survivor’s Benefit can be sent to you anywhere abroad.
If you are going abroad tell us well in advance so that we can arrange to pay your benefit in that country.
Admission into Hospital
You can continue to get your benefit if you are admitted to hospital.
Remarriage and Co-habitation
You cannot be paid Survivor’s Benefit if you re-marry or co-habit with another person. You must tell us if you can answer yes to any of the following questions;-
a) Does anyone else contribute to my household expenses?
b) Does anyone else share my accommodation at any time?
c) Am I co-habiting?
Detention in Prison
You cannot receive Survivor’s Benefit if you are in prison.
Changing Bank Accounts
If your benefit is paid directly into your bank you must tell us if you change bank or account. It is important that we have your correct bank details so that you continue to get your benefit on time.
Part Seven - Contributions and Survivor’s Allowance
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Exemption from Contribution Payments
You do not have to pay contributions whilst you are being paid Survivor’s Allowance. If you are working you must change your blue registration card for a red card. Your employer holds your registration card. Please ask for your card and bring it to the Contributions Zone to be exchanged. Give your new card to your employer immediately. When your Survivor’s Allowance stops you must change your card back to a blue card as you are then liable to pay contributions.
Credits
Whilst you are getting Survivor’s Allowance, we credit your contribution record. Credits take the place of contributions. They protect your future entitlement to benefit.
Part Eight - Further Information
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This leaflet gives general information and does not try to give full details on any particular matter. It cannot be treated as a statement of the Law.
Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions about the information contained in this leaflet.
Our staff are here to help you, please telephone us on 445505 or call into our office.
The Social Security Department is covered by the current Jersey Data Protection (Jersey) Law.
Please note: calls to the Department may be monitored for training purposes.
Other leaflets that may be of interest
Large print versions of most of our leaflets are available. Please call us on 445505 and we will be happy to send them to you.
