News item | 14-11-2025 | 2:30 PM
The Council of Ministers has approved the Wtp Commitments Bill and other pension topics. This proposal is now submitted to the Council of State for advice. The bill changes, among other things, a number of matters in the Pension Act in the field of survivor’s pension and pension accrual in the event of disability. These changes were promised to the Senate during the discussion of the Future Pensions Act (Wtp). These are changes that do not affect the transition to the new system.
Survivor’s pension
If a parent dies, children are often entitled to an orphan’s pension. The precise conditions for this differ per pension scheme. This bill establishes one identical definition in the law that determines when someone is a child with the right to an orphan’s pension. This is especially important for stepchildren or foster children or children from blended families. The Wtp also stipulated that after termination of the employment contract, or upon receipt of Unemployment or Sickness Benefits, there is still coverage for the orphan’s pension for a maximum of six months. The law is now being changed so that people can voluntarily continue this for longer. This was already possible for the partner’s pension.
Pension in case of disability
In the event of disability, an old-age pension is often still accrued on the part that a person is disabled for. This happens without any premium being paid. The Wtp included transitional law for insurers and closed funds whose employer no longer existed. This way, nothing will change for disabled people who already use this scheme. However, some bottlenecks have come to light during implementation. That is why this bill expands the transitional law.
Equal adjustment in the flexible premium scheme
The Wtp has two ways in which pension can be accrued: the solidarity and the flexible contribution scheme. Trade unions and employers make a choice between the two. In the solidarity premium scheme there are more opportunities to share risks with each other. And the flexible premium scheme offers more individual freedom of choice.
Within the flexible contribution scheme, it was possible that different retirees received a different annual adjustment to their pension amount. This was complex for a number of funds, both in terms of implementation and communication. This bill makes it possible for the pension benefit of the newly retired to move equally with the pension benefits of other pensioners. This option already existed within the solidarity premium scheme.
Entry into force
The bill now goes to the Council of State for advice. This advice is weighed by the government, after which the bill is presented to the House of Representatives. If the House of Representatives agrees, the bill will be presented to the Senate. If they also agree, the bill can come into effect on January 1, 2027. Whether this can be achieved will of course depend on the parliamentary consideration of the law.