Taiwan's National Pension: If Death Occurs at 65, Bureau of Labor Insurance States At Least One Month's Pension is Payable if Applied for Before Death
Taiwan's Bureau of Labor Insurance has clarified that if a National Pension insured person passes away shortly after turning 65, their family can still receive at least one month of pension benefits, provided the application for old-age pension was submitted before death. This statement addresses public concerns about the pension's benefit conditions.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 21:53
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Central News Agency (CNA Reporters Wang Shu-fen, Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 18th) - An issue arose concerning a National Pension insured person who died just after turning 65 and was unable to receive funeral grants, old-age pension, or survivor's pension. The Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI) explained that insured individuals receive a pension notification before reaching 65, and as long as they apply while still alive, their family can receive at least one month's pension.
A netizen posted that a relative who had been insured under the National Pension for many years passed away right after turning 65, but was unable to claim any of the three benefits: old-age pension, funeral grant, or survivor's pension. This sparked online debate questioning the adequacy of the National Pension's coverage.
Wu Wei-yang, head of the National Pension Division at the BLI, told a CNA reporter that insured individuals receive a notification to apply for the old-age pension one month before they turn 65. If the insured person applies before death and passes away during the approval process, their family can still receive at least one month's pension.
Wu Wei-yang stated that for any social insurance, old-age benefits are only valid if applied for while the person is alive. The BLI sends out the old-age pension application notification one month before the insured turns 65. If the insured person applies before passing away, after verifying household registration data, the amount of pension the family can receive on their behalf will be calculated, which will be at least one month's worth.
Wu Wei-yang gave an example: if an insured person's birthday is May 1st, they will receive the pension application notification a month prior. If the person passes away on a day in May but had already submitted the application before their death, the family can still collect the old-age pension for the month of May after the application is approved.
Chang Yu-hsuan, Director of the Department of Social Insurance at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told a CNA reporter that the National Pension is a form of social insurance, and the essence of social insurance is risk-pooling. Regarding the case of the individual who just turned 65, she pointed out three benefits to note. First, the funeral grant, similar to other social insurances, is only paid upon the death of an insured person; those over 65 are no longer considered insured.
Chang Yu-hsuan said that the survivor's pension under the National Pension system is claimed by vulnerable family members according to a priority order. However, if there are no eligible vulnerable survivors, it cannot be claimed.
Chang Yu-hsuan stated that if individuals involved in similar situations apply to the BLI for pension benefits and are dissatisfied with the BLI's decision, there are subsequent administrative appeal channels, such as a review committee. Through discussions by legal experts and others on the specific case, there may be room for legal interpretation.
The National Pension premium is paid once every two months. According to the latest BLI statistics, the number of people required to be insured in February of this year was 2,859,984, and the cumulative premium collection rate as of May 8th was 59.2%.
According to the National Pension Act, enrollment is mandatory, but there is no penalty for the individual for not paying premiums, nor are there late fees.
The BLI said that since up to 10 years of unpaid premiums can be paid back, and the interest is not high, some people choose to pay off their arrears just before they become eligible to receive the old-age pension. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150518
A netizen posted that a relative who had been insured under the National Pension for many years passed away right after turning 65, but was unable to claim any of the three benefits: old-age pension, funeral grant, or survivor's pension. This sparked online debate questioning the adequacy of the National Pension's coverage.
Wu Wei-yang, head of the National Pension Division at the BLI, told a CNA reporter that insured individuals receive a notification to apply for the old-age pension one month before they turn 65. If the insured person applies before death and passes away during the approval process, their family can still receive at least one month's pension.
Wu Wei-yang stated that for any social insurance, old-age benefits are only valid if applied for while the person is alive. The BLI sends out the old-age pension application notification one month before the insured turns 65. If the insured person applies before passing away, after verifying household registration data, the amount of pension the family can receive on their behalf will be calculated, which will be at least one month's worth.
Wu Wei-yang gave an example: if an insured person's birthday is May 1st, they will receive the pension application notification a month prior. If the person passes away on a day in May but had already submitted the application before their death, the family can still collect the old-age pension for the month of May after the application is approved.
Chang Yu-hsuan, Director of the Department of Social Insurance at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told a CNA reporter that the National Pension is a form of social insurance, and the essence of social insurance is risk-pooling. Regarding the case of the individual who just turned 65, she pointed out three benefits to note. First, the funeral grant, similar to other social insurances, is only paid upon the death of an insured person; those over 65 are no longer considered insured.
Chang Yu-hsuan said that the survivor's pension under the National Pension system is claimed by vulnerable family members according to a priority order. However, if there are no eligible vulnerable survivors, it cannot be claimed.
Chang Yu-hsuan stated that if individuals involved in similar situations apply to the BLI for pension benefits and are dissatisfied with the BLI's decision, there are subsequent administrative appeal channels, such as a review committee. Through discussions by legal experts and others on the specific case, there may be room for legal interpretation.
The National Pension premium is paid once every two months. According to the latest BLI statistics, the number of people required to be insured in February of this year was 2,859,984, and the cumulative premium collection rate as of May 8th was 59.2%.
According to the National Pension Act, enrollment is mandatory, but there is no penalty for the individual for not paying premiums, nor are there late fees.
The BLI said that since up to 10 years of unpaid premiums can be paid back, and the interest is not high, some people choose to pay off their arrears just before they become eligible to receive the old-age pension. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150518