Who can receive Children’s pension?

A child may be entitled to Children’s pension if he/she:

• is aged below 18 years and has lost one or both parents
• is aged below 20 years, has been orphaned and is studying
• is aged below 21 years, has lost one or both parents, is studying and the parent’s death is due to an industrial injury

The deceased parent must have been a member of the National Insurance Scheme during the last three years preceding death. The child must be a member of the National Insurance Scheme.

Children’s pension will be granted irrespective of whether the parents were married, divorced or living together as cohabiters.

How do you apply?

If the child is below the age of 18, it will be the guardian who must submit the claim for Children’s pension. You can print out the application form for Children’s pension here, or you can obtain one from your NAV Local Services. The form includes briefing and guidance which it is important for the child’s guardian to read. Your NAV Local Services can provide further information and assistance.

The completed application form should be sent to NAV Pensjon, Postboks 6600 Etterstad, 0607 Oslo. Most applications will be decided within a month.

What can you get?

When one parent has died:

The eldest child will receive 40 per cent of the basic amount of national insurance and the other children will receive 25 per cent each. The combined pension will be divided equally between the children.

When both parents have died:

The eldest child will receive a pension equal to the largest pension one of the parents would have received. The next child will receive 40 per cent of the basic amount of national insurance, and the other children 25 per cent each. The combined pension will be divided equally among the children.

The pension will be reduced if the deceased’s’ period of national insurance cover was less than 40 years.

If the deceased has qualified in a country with which Norway has a national insurance agreement, the children may be entitled to pension from that country as well.

Payment of children's pension

The pension will be paid until the month in which the child turns 18, 20 or 21 if the terms for the benefit have been met.

Other schemes that may be relevant

Many employees are members of a service pension scheme. A number of these schemes provide pensions for surviving children. For further information, you should refer to the deceased’s most recent employer if the deceased was employed up to the time of his/her death.

You will find links below to some public schemes that may be relevant:
Statens Pensjonskasse (The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund)
KLP Forsikring

When moving abroad

First you must check whether you will retain membership of the National Insurance Scheme.

Read more about this under related information. 

For persons coming to Norway

Children’s pension may only be granted if the deceased was a member of the National Insurance Scheme during the last three years before his/her death, and the child also meets the requirements for receiving benefit.

Most of the main information about your entitlements and duties is available here in English. There are also links to other more detailed information; however, some of this information is only available in Norwegian.

Report changes

Changes in your income, family situation and/or work situation may affect the payment you receive from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Stays abroad may also affect your payment.  You must therefore immediately report any such changes to your local NAV office.