Reading time: 5 minutes
Author: Accord Legal Scribe Solutions
Index:
1. What is a survivor’s pension?
2. Up to what age is a survivor’s pension paid?
3. Conditions for students in higher education.
4. Amount and calculation method.
4.1. When the parent is a pensioner.
4.2. When the parent is not a pensioner.
5. Required documents for submission to the National Social Security Institute (NSSI).
6. How Accord Legal Solutions can assist.
1. What is a survivor’s pension?
In Bulgaria, a survivor’s pension is a form of social protection for children who have lost one or both parents. It is granted under the Social Security Code (SSC) and aims to ensure the financial stability of families in the event of a significant loss.
2. Up to what age is a survivor’s pension paid?
Children are fully entitled to a survivor’s pension until they reach 18 years of age.
If they continue their education afterward, the pension is paid until the completion of their studies, but no later than their 26th birthday.
If the child is disabled (with over 50% incapacity) before the age of 18 or while studying, the right to the pension continues beyond these ages – for the duration of the recognized incapacity.
3. Conditions for students in higher education
The right applies to all forms and levels of education – full-time, part-time, or distance learning; bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies.
The child must provide proof of enrollment at the beginning of each semester through a certificate from the higher education institution, which is submitted to NSSI.
A student in their final year is considered enrolled until taking state exams or defending their thesis, but no later than the end of the second graduation session.
The pension is not paid if the studies are interrupted due to poor performance, an unapproved semester, or withdrawal.
Temporary interruptions are allowed only for medical reasons, pregnancy, or childcare up to 3 years, for a total period of up to 2 years.
4. Amount and calculation method
The amount of the survivor’s pension depends on whether the parent was a pensioner at the time of death:
4.1 When the parent was a pensioner
The survivor’s pension is calculated as a percentage of the deceased parent’s actual personal pension:
The amount is distributed equally among all eligible children.
4.2 When the parent was not a pensioner
NSSI calculates the so-called “hypothetical personal pension” – i.e., the amount the person would have received.
This takes into account:
The entire insurance record and income accumulated up to the date of death;
The individual coefficient determined under Articles 70–71 SSC;
Officially recognized periods (maternity, military service, compensated unemployment, etc.).
If both parents have died, NSSI calculates a hypothetical pension for each separately, sums them, and then distributes the total amount among the children.
5. Required documents for submission to NSSI
- Death certificate of the parent(s);
- Certificate of heirs;
- Applicant’s identity card;
- Certificate from the university for the current semester or state exams;
- Decision from the Medical Expert Commission (if applicable);
- Documents of insurance record and income of the deceased (if not available in the NSSI/NAP system).
Payments are updated annually and stop automatically if a new certificate from the higher education institution is not submitted.
6. How Accord can assist you
The team at Accord supports children and their guardians throughout the entire process of applying for and managing a survivor’s pension:
Verification of eligibility and estimated amount based on insurance record and income data;
Preparation of the full set of documents and standard applications;
Coordination with the higher education institution to issue the correct certificate;
Electronic submission or representation via power of attorney before NSSI;
Monitoring the case file and correspondence in case of missing or incorrect documents;
Appealing refusals or incorrectly calculated amounts before competent authorities;
Annual reminders to renew certificates to avoid interruption of payments.
The survivor’s pension is an important social right that can provide stability and peace of mind for young people continuing their education after losing a parent.
Accord provides full assistance with an initial free consultation and minimal document processing fees — from verifying eligibility to successfully receiving the pension and its subsequent administration.
Contact us for inquiries regarding survivor’s pensions at office@accordlegal.bg
and +359 888 688 868 or write to us via the contact form.
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