If the insured person's death results from a workplace accident or an occupational disease, their disabled family members, who were wholly or partly financially dependent on the deceased, are entitled to a survivor’s benefit, including:
- children under the age of 18, as well as children over 18 who are enrolled in full-time secondary or higher education and are not older than 24;
- children with disabilities, regardless of age, if the disability was established before the age of 18;
- brothers, sisters, and grandchildren under the age of 18, provided they have no employable parents;
- brothers, sisters, and grandchildren of any age, if they became disabled before the age of 18 and have no employable parents;
- the surviving spouse and parents, if they have not yet reached the retirement age;
- the surviving spouse who is expecting a child with the deceased insured person at the time of death;
- persons raising the deceased insured person's child under the age of 8, including:
- the surviving spouse,
- one grandparent (regardless of age), or
- one adult sibling.
The death of the insured person due to a workplace accident must be confirmed by an official report registered with the State Labour Inspectorate, stating that the accident resulted in the employee’s death.
If the death occurs later, it must also be confirmed by a medical institution’s certificate stating that the cause of death is related to the workplace accident.
In the case of death resulting from an occupational disease, the causal relationship must be confirmed by:
- an opinion issued by the Medical Commission on Occupational Diseases of the Occupational and Radiation Medicine Centre of Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, and
- a medical certificate attesting that the cause of death was related to the occupational disease.
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When determining the amount of the survivor’s benefit, the following is taken into account:
- the deceased person's average insurance contribution wage;
- the number of dependents.
The average monthly insurance contribution wage is calculated for a 36-month period during which the deceased person had the highest total income within the last five years prior to the date of death.
The amount of the benefit is set as a percentage of the deceased provider’s average contribution wage, depending on the number of dependents.
The minimum amount of the survivor’s benefit for each child is determined as a percentage of the national income median (the midpoint of the population’s income distribution):
- For a child up to seven years of age (inclusive) – 25% of the income median.
- For a child from seven years of age – 30% of the income median.
As of 1 January 2025:
- Up to age 6 (inclusive): €189 per month
- From age 7: €226 per month
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024:
- Up to age 6 (inclusive): €171 per month
- From age 7: €206 per month
The minimum amount of the survivor’s benefit is reviewed annually on 1 January.
The maximum amount of survivor’s benefit payable per month may not exceed 25 times the State Social Security Benefit established for persons who have reached the statutory retirement age.
The amount of the survivor’s benefit is reviewed annually on 1 October through indexation.
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A person cannot receive both the survivor’s benefit and a disability pension at the same time.
If a person is entitled to both a disability pension and survivor’s benefit, only one benefit is paid — either the pension or the survivor’s compensation, based on the person’s choice.
If, after reaching the age of 18, the child studies abroad, in order to continue receiving the survivor’s benefit, the person must submit a certificate issued by the foreign educational institution to the State Social Insurance Agency.
The certificate must clearly state that the individual is enrolled in a general, vocational, or higher education institution in full-time (daytime) studies during the specified period.
Foreign documents must be prepared in accordance with legalization or apostille requirements. If the document is issued in a foreign language, a certified translation may be required.
The survivor’s benefit may be received:
- by transfer to a bank account with a credit institution or Postal Settlement System account in the Republic of Latvia;
- by home delivery to the beneficiary’s declared place of residence.
If the person moves permanently abroad, the same documents as required for pension payment continuation must be submitted to maintain the benefit.
The survivor’s benefit is suspended during the period when the person is receiving an unemployment benefit.
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