If a spouse dies, what AHV pension is payable?

If a spouse dies, what AHV pension is payable?

When I turned 65, I received my AVS pension. Four years later, my wife reached retirement age and part of my AVS was allocated to her. If she were to die before me, what pension would I receive?

J. Geneva

A distinction needs to be made between the calculation of pension amounts once both spouses have reached retirement age and the rules governing the maximum amount that can be paid to a married couple.

If both spouses are entitled to an AVS/AHV pension, the income earned by the spouses during the calendar years of their joint marriage will be divided and allocated equally to each spouse, in accordance with Article 29quinquies LAVS. Income from gainful employment entered in a spouse's individual account as a result of this division of income is considered to be the spouse's own income for the purpose of calculating any pensions that subsequently arise.

In addition, Article 35 LAVS stipulates that the sum of the two pensions for a couple may not exceed 150 % of the maximum amount of the old-age pension if both spouses are entitled to an old-age pension or one spouse is entitled to an old-age pension and the other to a disability insurance pension. This limits the maximum total pension. However, this rule will have no impact if the combined pensions of the two spouses do not exceed one-and-a-half times the maximum full pension. The amount of the pension is set out in the Ordinance on wage and price adjustments in the AVS, AI and APG schemes. The maximum full pension is CHF 2,350 per month, which means that the maximum pension for a couple is CHF 3,525.

In the event of the death of one of the spouses, the ceiling no longer applies, so that the pension due to the surviving spouse is paid in full. In addition, Article 35bis LAVS provides that widows and widowers in receipt of an old-age pension are entitled to a supplement of 20% on their pension up to a maximum amount of CHF 2,350.

Therefore, the calculation of the pension that will be paid to you after your wife's death will be based on your current pension without taking into account the reductions due to the 150% ceiling applicable to couples, increased by 20% up to a maximum of CHF 2,350.