Death

Your pension scheme on death. Our pension scheme offers different types of pension for your partner and children. On this page you can read about them, how they are arranged by default and the choices you have.

Which pension is there for your partner and children?

What if you pass away while still employed with Shell? Then your survivors will receive a pension:

Temporary partner’s pension: your partner will receive a benefit until he or she reaches state retirement age
Lifelong partner’s pension: your partner will receive benefits for as long as he or she lives.
Orphan’s pension: your children will receive the benefit until they reach the age of 25.
Are you going to separate? There might be a pension for your former partner. You can read more about it below.

Good to know: pensions for your partner apply if you are cohabiting, married or registered partners. Read more about this on the page for your partner.

Are you about to retire? Then you can choose to buy a lifelong partner's pension. You can read more about it below.

How does pension work for your partner and children?

Summary:

How does it work

If you pass away, your partner and children may be entitled to a benefit from your pension. Below you can read how this is arranged at SNPS and which benefits apply.

They are a risk-based insurance. There is a benefit for your survivors if you pass away.
Shell pays the cost (premium) for these insurances. You cannot change the amount of the benefit or premium.
The insurance policies for the temporary partner's pension and orphan's pension stop when you leave service or retire.
Are you leaving the employment of Shell? In some cases you can choose whether or not to continue these insurances. Read below about the choices you have.
Will you definitely opt for a variable pension on your retirement date (Collective Variable Pension)? Then we insure a partner's pension as standard, if your partner is known to us. But you can also decide together with your partner not to take out an insurance for a partner's pension: waiving a partner's pension. Do you choose a fixed pension with another pension provider instead of a variable pension? Then you make arrangements with that provider about your pension and a partner's pension, if any. You make this choice together with your partner too.

We increase or decrease the benefit each year by the result of the investments. Your children will receive benefits until they reach the age of 25.

We base our calculations for this on the benefit under the Surviving Dependants Act (Algemene nabestaandenwet, Anw). Your partner will then receive an amount that is slightly higher than the standard surviving dependant’s benefit. Your partner will receive this benefit until he or she reaches the state retirement age. The benefit will stop if your partner dies before reaching his or her AOW age (state retirement age). The temporary partner’s pension is a variable benefit. We increase or decrease the benefit each year by the result of the investments.

If you pass away before you retire. Then the payment of the lifelong partner's pension starts with a fixed monthly amount: 35% of the last-earned salary. The benefit stops when your partner passes away. The partner’s pension is a variable benefit. We increase or decrease the benefit each year by the result of the investments.

If you pass away after you retire. The life-long partner’s pension benefit depends on the age at which you retire. If you retire at the age of 68, the benefit will be 70% of your retirement pension. Are you going to take early or late retirement? If so, the benefit of the partner's pension will change.

Do you have a former partner? And is he or she entitled to part of your pension? If so, it may affect the amount of the partner's pension for your current partner. The benefit may then be lower. It depends on the arrangements you made with your former partner.

Here you can find the pension regulations (pdf)(opens in new window).

What happens to the pensions for your partner and children when you leave service?

Are you leaving the employment of Shell? Are you also receiving a benefit due to unemployment or illness? Then the insurance will remain in place until you stop receiving the benefit in question. What if you are not receiving a benefit of this nature? Then the survivor’s pension insurance will continue until you have a new employer or have retired. This will be for a maximum of 3 months. Do you want the insurance of partner’s pensions to continue after these 3 months? Then contact us to discuss whether this is possible in your situation.

Your partner may be entitled to Anw benefits

An Anw benefit is a state benefit for survivors. Whether your partner will receive it depends on your partner's situation: age, income and childcare.

Read more on the Social Insurance Bank website (SVB.nl(opens in new window)).

What can you do yourself?

Check the pensions for your survivors in my‑Shell Pension(opens in new window).
Read all the information on pension for your partner and children. Those pages also tell you how to check whether we have the correct information.
Discuss with your partner what you should arrange if your situation changes. Also discuss whether you consider your pensions sufficient. Or that you might want to buy additional insurance yourself. A financial adviser can help you decide which options are best for you.

Are you visiting this page as a survivor of a Shell employee?

Then we wish you strength with your loss, our condolences. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Your situation changes

Read how a change in your situation affects your pension.

Leaving Shell

Leaving Shell employment? Your pension accrual with Shell Pension will stop, but you will remain entitled to the pension you have already accrued.

Working more or less

Are you going to work more or less? Your salary will change and this will have consequences for your pension accrual. Even if you are going to work more or less temporarily.

Taking leave

The pension you receive depends on your salary. Are you planning to take leave? For example, extended post-birth leave or a sabbatical? Then your salary will usually be lower and you will accrue less pension.

Working abroad

Are you going to work abroad for Shell? Your pension accrual may change. Will the Netherlands still be your Base Country? Then you will continue to be a participant of Shell Pension. However, you will only accrue AOW benefit if you are living in the Netherlands.

Incapacity for work

Do you have an incapacity for work? Then Shell will, firstly, continue to pay the salary and pension contributions applicable before your incapacity for work. Your pension accrual will continue. Often, you will leave the employment of Shell partially or in full after 2 years. What happens if you then start to receive a benefit? Then there will be consequences for your pension accrual. Read more about this on this page.

Separating

If you separate. You will make agreements with your former partner and record them in writing. These agreements will include agreements about your pension. Read more about this on this page. You will also read which documents we need from you. This depends on your situation and the agreements you have made.

For your partner

Pension for your partner? With or without a cohabitation contract, married or registered partners. Your partner will often be entitled to a partner’s pension if you die while you are in the employment of Shell. See this page for information about what to do to arrange this and how it works.

Children

Insurance for your children. As a parent, you obviously want the best for your children. Especially if something happens to you. That’s why we offer your children an orphan's pension: if you die before your retirement date and are in our employment at the time, your children will receive a benefit.

Moving house

Are you moving house? If you move within the Netherlands, we automatically receive your new address from your local municipality. This does not apply if you move abroad or within another country. Got a new phone number or email address? Please let us know.

Overview

Choices for your pension