If you're under 55, medically recognized as disabled, and your spouse—who was also disabled—has passed away, you may qualify for a disabled widow's or widower's pension. This benefit isn't automatic; you must apply through your deceased spouse's health insurance fund.
The disabled widow's or widower's pension is a Social Security benefit under invalidity insurance. It's paid to the surviving spouse if the deceased was receiving (or entitled to) an invalidity or retirement pension at the time of death.
The surviving spouse must also be medically recognized as disabled, with their condition reducing work capacity by at least two-thirds. You must be under 55 to qualify. Note: From age 55, this can transition to a widow's or widower's old-age pension (widowhood allowance or survivor's pension) of the same amount, managed by the Pension and Occupational Health Insurance Fund (Carsat).
This pension cannot be combined with a survivor's pension but may pair with others under certain conditions, such as the Adult Disability Supplement (ASI), differential adult disabled allowance, work income, basic retirement pension, or an annuity from a work-related accident.
The amount depends on the deceased spouse's age.
If they died before retirement age, the pension equals 54% of their 2nd category invalidity pension (or what they could have received), which is 50% of their average annual salary—minimum 294 euros monthly, maximum 1,714 euros.
If they died after retirement age, it's 54% of their old-age pension.
It increases by 10% if the deceased raised at least three dependent children for nine years before each turned 16. The benefit is subject to social contributions like CSG and CRDS (except for non-taxable recipients).
Payment stops upon remarriage or if invalidity status ends.
Approval isn't automatic—you must meet eligibility and submit an application.
Download Cerfa form n° 50815*03 from ameli.fr and send it to your deceased spouse's health insurance fund, with supporting documents.
For yourself: medical certificate of disability, ID proof (and for dependents if applicable), tax proof, and notice of your invalidity pension, work accident/occupational disease pension, or retirement pension.
For the deceased: Vitale card or rights certificate, and pension allocation notice(s).
If applied within one year of death, it's paid from the 1st day of the month after death (or disability recognition). After one year, from the 1st day of the month after application receipt (or disability recognition).
