The death of a pensioner puts an end to payment of their pension and may give entitlement to a survivor’s pension.
When a retired flight crew member dies, his or her survivors may receive a survivor’s pension, subject to eligibility. It is important that the CRPN is informed of the death as quickly as possible by sending an attestation of death.
The conditions of claiming a survivor’s or child’s pension are assessed pursuant to the legislation in force on the date of the death. The information below pertains to the legislation applicable to deaths having occurred on or after 1st January 2012.
Please consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- Who are the beneficiaries?
The eligibility of the beneficiaries to receive a pension is assessed on the date of the member’s death. The beneficiaries of an active or retired member having died are:
- the widow(er) and/or divorced spouses, not having died or remarried. Common-law partners or partners linked to the deceased by a Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) are not recognised for entitlement to a survivor’s pension,
- their children (subject to certain conditions: children in full-time education under the age of 21, or disabled children of any age).
The beneficiary’s income is not taken into account in assessing entitlement to a CRPN survivor’s pension.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- On what date does the survivor’s pension take effect?
If the deceased member was a pensioner of the CRPN, the survivor’s pension is due immediately.
- What is the rate of the survivor’s benefits?
The rate of the survivor’s pension is fixed at 60% of the member’s pension, potentially accompanied by the top-up and child-related supplement.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- How is the survivor’s pension shared?
The survivor’s pension, calculated over all entitlements or benefits received by the member at the time of death, is shared between the various entitled spouses within the meaning of the French Transport Code, strictly prorated to the years of marriage. Common-law partners or partners linked to the deceased by a Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) are not recognised for entitlement to a survivor’s pension.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- What are the rates of the orphan’s pension?
The rate of the child’s pension is fixed at:
- 12% of the member’s pension,
- 50% when the child is orphaned of both parents,
- 72% when the child is orphaned of both parents and suffers from a permanent disability as defined in Article R. 6527-64 of the French Transport Code (for deaths of members on or after 1st January 2013).
However, the total of the orphan’s and survivor’s pensions cannot exceed 100% of the member’s pension. If it exceeds this, the pension allocated to each of the beneficiaries will be reduced proportionally.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- In what cases is a disabled child entitled to a pension?
A child suffering from a disability making him or her unable to earn a living may, subject to certain conditions, and without age limit, receive a child’s pension after the member’s death.
To receive this, the child or their guardian must submit with the pension application:
- Either the disability card or Inclusion Mobility Card (CMI) or a notification from the CDAPH (Commission for Rights and Independence of Disabled Persons (formerly COTOREP)),
- Or a document or an attestation relative to the award of a disability pension or a workplace accident or occupational disease benefit issued by French Social Security,
the document submitted must state the date of onset of the disability. If it does not do so, an additional document mentioning that date must be sent to the CRPN.
- And a medical certificate(1) specifying that the child suffers from a permanent disability making them unable to earn a living.
To maintain payment of the pension, each year:
- For the 5 years after the entitlement takes effect, a medical certificate(1) specifying that the child suffers from a permanent disability making them unable to earn a living,
- After 5 years, a sworn declaration of the person concerned or their guardian or legal representative attesting to the impossibility for the person concerned to earn a living.
We advise you to inform us of your child’s disability as soon as possible so the information is in our possession when the beneficiary entitlements are set up.
(1) The medical certificate mentioned in the above cases is not required for children who can evidence receiving benefits without limitation of duration and who present a disability rate of at least 80% (AAH (disabled adult allowance), ACTP (third party assistance benefit), CMI (mention “disability”)).
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- Can I claim both a direct pension and a survivor’s pension?
If you receive a direct pension from the CRPN resulting from your flight crew activity, you can also receive a survivor’s pension after the death of a spouse or ex-spouse who was also a former flight crew member.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- If the deceased benefited from a survivor’s pension?
The heirs or people managing the application must send:
- An attestation of death,
- The contact details of the notary.
Communicating the information to the CRPN without delay will avoid payment of the pension in error.
- What steps do I take?
On the death of a member, the applicant must send to the CRPN as quickly as possible, to avoid any payment of the pension in error:
- a death certificate or attestation,
- an application for survivor’s pension, on plain paper or using the form for Application to claim entitlements to survivor’s pension, within a maximum period of six months.
This will make it possible to swiftly set up any child’s and survivor’s pensions. If the six-month period is exceeded, the child’s and/or survivor’s pensions will take effect on the first day of the month following receipt of the application.
This application can be sent to the CRPN:
- by post,
- or electronically: scanned application attached to the contact form available in the section “FAQ, Help and Contact”.
So as not to delay the claims procedure, ask the town halls of the respective places of birth:
- for a birth certificate, with margin notes, of the deceased member,
- for a birth certificate, with margin notes, of the applicant.
These original documents must be sent to the CRPN with the duly completed pension application.
You must put together your application pack within a maximum period of 2 years from the effective date.
You can consult the informational guide Survivor’s and orphan’s pension (for deaths on or after 1st January 2012).
- What supporting documents do I need for my survivor’s pension application pack?
On receipt of the pension application, a pack will be sent to the beneficiary or their guardian. This pack must be returned within a period of 2 years, duly completed, accompanied by the following supporting documents or information:
- a death certificate (if not yet provided at this stage),
- a full copy of the family record book(s),
- a copy of the beneficiary’s identity card or passport,
- birth certificates with margin notes (that of the former flight crew member and a birth certificate of each possible beneficiary) dated within the past 3 months,
- bank details (RIB) in the name of each beneficiary,
And, depending on the situation of the applicant(s):
- a birth certificate dated within the past 3 months, with parentage, for each child of the flight crew member aged under 21,
- a schooling certificate for each dependent child between the ages of 16 and 21,
- a sworn declaration relative to any paid activity for each child over the age of 16,
- the contact details of the notary responsible for settling the estate,
- the contact details of the guardianship court,
- the divorce judgment,
- a sworn declaration of absence of divorce or separation on the date of the death.
In the specific case of disabled children, you can also refer to the question “In what cases is a disabled child entitled to a pension?” above.
- What are the consequences of the remarriage or death of a spouse?
When the holder of a survivor’s pension remarries, they permanently lose any entitlement to the survivor’s pension. Similarly, payment of the pension will stop in case of death.
- What are the conditions for a contribution to funeral costs?
You can consult the summary table of conditions for award of 1st level assistance by area of intervention.
- Can I access the deceased’s personal account?
Access to the personal account of the deceased pensioner remains open for 18 months after the death.
If you are in possession of their Social Security number and password, you can directly access their personal space and their documents.
You cannot change their personal information or contact details.
You can create or recreate their personal account if you have access to the email account they communicated to us (activation code will only be sent to the email address registered in our database).