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ATA/340/1997•Applicable pension rules and widow’s pension reduction
ATA/340/1997Court of Justice / Administrative ChamberJun 3, 1997Confirmed
Extracted by Omnilex
The case concerns the calculation of a widow’s occupational pension. The court held that the governing pension regulations are those in force on the date of the insured person’s death, because that is when the survivor’s entitlement arises. It further held that a pension fund clause reducing the widow’s pension due to an age difference of more than 10 years is not contrary to mandatory occupational pension law, so long as the reduction does not fall below the statutory minimum widow’s benefit. The challenge to the pension calculation therefore failed.
Art. 49 LPP; determination of the applicable pension rules and validity of an age-difference reduction in a widow’s pension. The regulatory regime governing survivor benefits is the one in force at the insured person’s death, since the beneficiary’s claim arises at that moment. A pension fund provision reducing the widow’s pension by reason of an age difference exceeding ten years is not incompatible with the mandatory rules of the LPP, provided the reduction does not impair the minimum benefit guaranteed by that law. The autonomy of occupational pension regulations thus remains subject only to the statutory minimum protection.
Descripteurs
ASSURANCE SOCIALE; PREVOYANCE PROFESSIONNELLE; CALCUL; DROIT A LA PRESTATION D'ASSURANCE; PRESTATION D'ASSURANCE(EN GENERAL); RENTE DE VEUF; SURVIVANT; ASSU
Normes
LPP.49
Résumé
Le règlement applicable au calcul d'une rente de veuve est celui qui se trouvait en vigueur le jour du décès de l'assuré, c'est-à-dire à la date à laquelle naît le droit aux prestations du bénéficiaire. La clause du règlement d'une caisse de retraite prévoyant la réduction d'une rente de veuve en raison d'une différence d'âge de plus de 10 ans n'est pas contraire aux règles impératives de la LPP, tant et aussi longtemps qu'elle n'entame pas le minimum auquel a droit la veuve au sens de cette dernière loi.
Extracted by Omnilex
Which regulation applies to the calculation of a widow’s pension: the rule in force at the insured person’s death or a later rule?
The applicable regulation is the one in force on the day of the insured person’s death, when the beneficiary’s entitlement arises.
The right to survivor benefits arises at the insured person’s death; the pension calculation must therefore be governed by the regulatory framework then in force.
Is a pension fund clause reducing a widow’s pension because the spouses’ age difference exceeds 10 years compatible with mandatory occupational pension law?
Yes, provided the reduction does not cut into the minimum widow’s benefit guaranteed by mandatory occupational pension law.
A regulatory reduction based on age difference is not incompatible per se with mandatory LPP rules; it is impermissible only if it lowers the pension below the statutory minimum.
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