The death grant is a one-off cash benefit granted to family members of the deceased beneficiary, provided that the conditions for access are met. The purpose of this subsidy is to compensate the family for the increased financial burden resulting from the death of the beneficiary and to facilitate the reorganisation of family life in the period immediately following the death.

It applies to all workers covered by the general contributory regime, including private sector workers, public sector workers and workers who optionally join the general regime.

• The deceased beneficiary must be registered with the Contributory Social Security Regime.
• Those entitled to the death grant are the family members of the deceased beneficiary. (whether they were an active worker or a pensioner):
  • Surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years
  • Descendants (including adopted or biological children, even if unborn) or guardians of the beneficiary
• Claiming the death grant:
  • Complete and submit the death grant application form 
  • Attach a copy of the death certificate of the deceased beneficiary
  • Attach a copy of a valid civil identification document for the applicant and the grant holders. 
    • For nationals: electoral card or identity card
    • For foreigners: passport
  • Attach a copy of the marriage certificate or a statement by the head of the suco proving the status of spouse, where applicable
  • Attach copy of Birth Certificate or statement of adoption or guardianship, where applicable
• There is no qualifying period for access to the death grant.
• The death grant cannot be combined with the reimbursement of funeral expenses.

• The surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years.
• Descendants or guardians
• The legal representatives of the persons entitled to the subsidy, if they are minors or incapacitated.

Applications for the death grant may be submitted within a maximum of 3 months from the month following the month in which the beneficiary's death was known.

• In person at social security centres in Dili, in the municipalities and in RAEOA.

Or

• In person at the Consulates or Embassies of Timor-Leste abroad

Or

• By email to seguranca.socialtl@gmail.com (the application sent via email must be duly completed, signed and contain all attachments - application and scanned attachments)

Or 

• Online (under construction)
  
  

The amount of the death grant is calculated using the following formula:

S = Subsidy Amount 

R = Reference earnings, which is the average of the earnings recorded and revalued over the best 120 months of the entire contributory career, which served as the basis for calculating the old-age or invalidity pension the beneficiary was receiving or that which would have been calculated for him/her at the time of death.

If you have less than 120 months of contributions, the reference remuneration is defined by R/n where R is the total of the registered remunerations and n is the number of months to which they correspond.

The death grant is paid in a lump sum and paid to entitled persons under the following conditions:

• 50% for a surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and 50% for descendants (including adopted or biological children, even if they are unborn; or guardians of the beneficiary), when there are both.
• 100% for a surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) or for descendants (including adopted or biological children, even if unborn; or guardians of the beneficiary), when there is only a spouse or descendants.

The death grant is paid once only.

Social Security pays the death grant on the following dates:

• If it was applied for by the 5th, it will be paid on the 10th of the same month.
• If it was applied for between the 6th and the 20th, it will be paid on the 25th of the same month. 
• If it was applied for after the 20th until the end of the month, it will be paid on the 10th of the following month.

Reimbursement of funeral expenses is a one-off cash payment made to the person who proves that he or she incurred the funeral expenses of the beneficiary, applicable only in situations where there are no persons entitled to the death grant.

It applies to all workers covered by the general contributory regime, including private sector workers, public sector workers and workers who optionally join the general regime. 

• The deceased beneficiary must be registered with the Contributory Social Security Regime.
• There are no persons entitled to the death grant.
• Provide proof of payment of funeral expenses for the deceased beneficiary.
• Claim reimbursement of funeral expenses:
  • Complete and submit the application form for reimbursement of funeral expenses 
  • Attach a copy of the death certificate of the deceased beneficiary
  • Attach a copy of the applicant's valid civil identification document
    • For nationals: electoral card or identity card
    • For foreigners: passport
  • Attach proof of funeral expenses incurred, in the name of the person claiming reimbursement, and including the name of the deceased beneficiary and the amount paid.
• There is no qualifying period for access to the reimbursement of funeral expenses.
• Reimbursement of funeral expenses cannot be combined with the death grant.
  
  

• The person concerned
• The legal representative of the person concerned, where the latter is incapable

The application for reimbursement of funeral expenses may be submitted within a maximum of 3 months from the month following knowledge of the beneficiary's death.

• In person at social security centres in Dili, in the municipalities and in RAEOA.

Or

• In person at the Consulates or Embassies of Timor-Leste abroad

Or

• By email to seguranca.socialtl@gmail.com (the application sent via email must be duly completed, signed and contain all attachments - application and scanned attachments)

Or 

• Online (under construction)
   
   

The amount of the reimbursement of funeral expenses is made on the basis of the supporting document submitted and is capped at the equivalent of:

R = Reference earnings, which is the average of the earnings recorded and revalued over the best 120 months of the entire contributory career, which served as the basis for calculating the old-age or invalidity pension the beneficiary was receiving or that which would have been calculated for him/her at the time of death.

If you have less than 120 months of contributions, the reference remuneration is defined by R/n where R is the total of the registered remunerations and n is the number of months to which they correspond.

Payment of the reimbursement of funeral expenses is made in a lump sum and paid to the person who proves that he/she has incurred the expenses.

Reimbursement of funeral expenses is paid only once.

Social Security pays the reimbursement of funeral expenses on the following dates:

• If it was applied for by the 5th, it will be paid on the 10th of the same month. 
• If it was applied for between the 6th and the 20th, it will be paid on the 25th of the same month. 
• If it was applied for after the 20th until the end of the month, it will be paid on the 10th of the following month.
  
  

The Survivors’ Pension under the general contributory regime is a monthly cash pension granted to the family members of a deceased beneficiary who contributed to the contributory social security regime, provided that the conditions for access are met. The purpose of the survivors’ pension is to compensate the family members of the deceased beneficiary for the loss of income from work or the pension that the beneficiary was receiving as a result of the beneficiary's death.

It applies to all workers exclusively covered by the general contributory regime, including private sector workers, workers who optionally join the general regime, and public sector workers who only started working after 1 October 2017 (and were therefore never covered by the transitional regime). 

• The deceased beneficiary must be registered with the Contributory Social Security Regime.
• Survivors are entitled to the survivors’ pension if they are family members of the deceased beneficiary (whether they were an active worker or a pensioner):
  • Surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years
  • Descendants (including adopted or biological children, even if unborn) or guardians of the beneficiary
• The beneficiary must have fulfilled the qualifying period:
  • What is the qualifying period: 
    • 12 months (1 year) of contributions (in 2017)
    • 18 months (1.5 years) of contributions (in 2018)
    • 24 months (2 years) of contributions (in 2019)
    • 30 months (2.5 years) of contributions (in 2019)
    • 36 months (3 years) of contributions (in 2021)
    • 42 months (3.5 years) of contributions (in 2022)
    • 48 months (4 years) of contributions (in 2023)
    • 54 months (4.5 years) of contributions (in 2024)
    • 60 months (5 years) of contributions (from 2025)
  • How the qualifying period is calculated: 
    • The qualifying period includes:
      • the periods of contribution in the general social security system of Timor-Leste
      • periods of contribution to social security regimes abroad, covered under international agreements, provided that they do not overlap
      • the days on which employees received parental benefits
• Apply for a Survivors’ Pension:
  • Complete and submit the Survivors’ Pension application form
  • Attach a copy of the death certificate of the deceased beneficiary
  • Attach a copy of a valid civil identification document for the applicant and the Survivor Pension holders
    • For nationals: electoral card or identity card 
    • For foreigners: passport
  • Attach a copy of the marriage certificate or a statement by the head of the suco proving the status of spouse, where applicable
  • Attach copy of Birth Certificate or statement of adoption or guardianship, where applicable
  • Attach a copy of the school report card or equivalent document for children and guardians, where applicable
  • If there is a period of contribution abroad, attach a statement of the contribution status of the foreign country
     

• The surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years.
• Descendants or guardians, where there is no surviving spouse who is not separated (or who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) or where they are not descendants or guardians of the surviving spouse who is not separated (or who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years).
• The legal representatives of the persons entitled to the Survivors’ Pension, when they are minors or incapacitated.
  
  

You can apply for a survivors’ pension at any time after you learn of the beneficiary's death.

There is no maximum deadline for submitting the application.

The survivors’ pension is paid:

• from the month following the death of the beneficiary, provided that the application is made within 12 months of the death of the beneficiary.
• in the case of unborn children, the pension starts from the month following the birth, provided it is claimed within 6 months of the birth.
• in cases where the above does not apply, the pension starts in the month following the submission of the duly completed application.

• In person at social security centres in Dili, in the municipalities and in RAEOA.

Or

• In person at the Consulates or Embassies of Timor-Leste abroad

Or

• By email to seguranca.socialtl@gmail.com (the application sent via email must be duly completed, signed and contain all attachments - application and scanned attachments)

Or 

• Online (under construction)
   

The survivors’ pension is paid to the following family members of the deceased beneficiary (pension entitlement holders):

1.  SURVIVING SPOUSE, NOT SEPARATED, OR PERSON LIVING WITH THE BENEFICIARY IN A SIMILAR SITUATION FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS 

If there are no descendants or dependants of the couple:

• Age up to and including 45: the pension is paid for 1 year.
• Age 46 to 59: pension is paid for 2 years
• Aged 60 or over: the pension is paid for life (until death).

Whether there are any children or guardians dependent on the couple:

• Irrespective of the spouse's age: the pension is paid until the youngest child reaches 24 years of age provided that up to the age of 18 he or she attends school, and between the ages of 18 and 24 he or she is successful at school.
• Aged 60 or over: the pension is paid for life (until death).

2. TO DESCENDANTS AND GUARDIANS 

• If there is no surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years: 
  • the pension is paid until they reach the age of 24, provided that up to the age of 18 they are in education, and between the ages of 18 and 24 they are in education and not in paid employment.
• If they are not descendants or guardians of the surviving spouse, who is not separated, or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years: 
  • the pension is paid until they reach the age of 24, provided that up to the age of 18 they are in school, and between the ages of 18 and 24 they are in education and not in paid employment.
    

The monthly amount of the survivors’ pension is calculated using the following calculation formula, and then applying a %:
 

P = Monthly Pension Amount 

R = Reference earnings, which is the average of the recorded and revalorised earnings of the best 120 months of the entire contribution career.

If you have less than 120 months of contributions, the reference remuneration is defined by R/n where R is the total of the registered remunerations and n is the number of months to which they correspond.

N = Number of months with pay record (maximum of 360 months) 

360 = Number of months for a full contributory career (30 years)

A % is then applied to the amount resulting from the calculation formula under the following conditions:

• 65% for pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years), when there are no dependent children or guardians of the couple
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the couple's dependent children up to the age of 24.
• 100% for pension awarded to the beneficiary's descendants or guardians, where there is no surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years).
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the beneficiary's only descendants or guardians up to the age of 24.

The payment of the survivors’ pension is monthly, with 13 months counted each year (including an additional month of pension in December, equivalent to the 13th month).

The survivors’ pension is paid monthly (13 months) until one of the following situations occurs:

• Death of the pensioner (pension entitlement ceases)
• Marriage or similar situation of the spouse of the person receiving the pension (pension entitlement ceases).
• Pensioner reaches age limit or finishes school (pension entitlement ceases)
• The maximum pension duration limit is reached (pension entitlement ceases)
• The children or guardians are in paid employment (pension payments are suspended from the following month).
• There is no proof of the educational situation of the children or guardians (the payment of the pension is suspended from the beginning of the corresponding school year).

In situations where payment of the pension is suspended, payment is resumed in the month following the month in which the facts that led to the suspension cease to exist.

Social Security pays the survivors’ pension monthly on the following dates:

• If the worker claims the pension by the 15th, it will be paid on the 25th of the same month.
• If the worker claims the pension between the 16th and the end of the month, it will be paid the following month.

The survivors’ pension can be combined with income from work. 
 

The Survivors’ Pension under the general contributory regime is a monthly cash pension granted to the family members of a deceased beneficiary who contributed to the contributory social security regime, provided that the conditions for access are met. The purpose of the survivors’ pension is to compensate the family members of the deceased beneficiary for the loss of income from work or the pension that the beneficiary was receiving as a result of the beneficiary's death.

It applies to workers who have worked in the State and have completed working time during the period when only the transitional regime was in force (from 20 May 2002 until 30 September 2017) and during the period when the general contributory regime was in force (from 1 October 2017). 

The calculation of the survivors’ pension takes into account the time and earnings during those two periods.
 

• The deceased beneficiary was registered in the general Social Security regime.
• The deceased beneficiary must be registered with the Contributory Social Security Regime.
• Survivors are entitled to the survivors’ pension if they are family members of the deceased beneficiary (whether they were an active worker or a pensioner):
  • Surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years
  • Descendants (including adopted or biological children, even if unborn) or guardians of the beneficiary
• The beneficiary must have fulfilled the qualifying period:
  • What is the qualifying period:
    • 12 months (1 year) of contributions (in 2017)
    • 18 months (1.5 years) of contributions (in 2018)
    • 24 months (2 years) of contributions (in 2019)
    • 30 months (2.5 years) of contributions (in 2019)
    • 36 months (3 years) of contributions (in 2021)
    • 42 months (3.5 years) of contributions (in 2022)
    • 48 months (4 years) of contributions (in 2023)
    • 54 months (4.5 years) of contributions (in 2024)
    • 60 months (5 years) of contributions (from 2025)
  • How the qualifying period is calculated: 
    • The qualifying period includes:
      • the periods of contribution in the general social security system of Timor-Leste
      • the period worked during the transitional social security regime (only for State workers)
      • periods of contribution to social security regimes abroad, covered under international agreements, provided that they do not overlap
      • the days on which employees received parental benefits
• Apply for a Survivors’ Pension:
  • Complete and submit the Survivors’ Pension application form
  • Attach a copy of the death certificate of the deceased beneficiary
  • Attach a copy of a valid civil identification document for the applicant and the Survivor Pension holders
    • For nationals: electoral card or identity card; 
    • For foreigners: passport.
  • Attach a copy of the marriage certificate or a statement by the head of the suco proving the status of spouse, where applicable
  • Attach copy of Birth Certificate or statement of adoption or guardianship, where applicable
  • Attach a copy of the school report card or equivalent document for children and guardians, where applicable
  • Submission of a list of the beneficiary's remuneration and length of service, obtained from the competent authorities
  • If there is a period of contribution abroad, please attach a statement of the contribution status of the foreign country
     

• The surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years.
• Descendants or guardians, where there is no surviving spouse who is not separated (or who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) or where they are not descendants or guardians of the surviving spouse who is not separated (or who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years).
• The legal representatives of the persons entitled to the Survivors’ Pension, when they are minors or incapacitated.

You can apply for a survivors’ pension at any time after you learn of the beneficiary's death.

There is no maximum deadline for submitting the application.

The survivors’ pension is payable provided the conditions for access are met:

• from the month following the death of the beneficiary, provided that the application is made within 12 months of the death of the beneficiary.
• in the case of unborn children, the pension starts from the month following the birth, provided it is claimed within 6 months of the birth.
• in cases where the above does not apply, the pension starts in the month following the submission of the duly completed application. 
   

• In person at social security centres in Dili, in the municipalities and in RAEOA.

Or

• In person at the Consulates or Embassies of Timor-Leste abroad

Or

• By email to seguranca.socialtl@gmail.com (the application sent via email must be duly completed, signed and contain all attachments - application and scanned attachments)

Or 

• Online (under construction)
   

The survivors’ pension is paid to the following family members of the deceased beneficiary (pension entitlement holders):

1.  SURVIVING SPOUSE, NOT SEPARATED, OR PERSON LIVING WITH THE BENEFICIARY IN A SIMILAR SITUATION FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS 

If there are no descendants or dependants of the couple:

• Age up to and including 45: the pension is paid for 1 year.
• Age 46 to 59: pension is paid for 2 years
• Aged 60 or over: the pension is paid for life (until death).

Whether there are any children or guardians dependent on the couple:

• Irrespective of the spouse's age: the pension is paid until the youngest child reaches 24 years of age provided that up to the age of 18 he or she attends school, and between the ages of 18 and 24 he or she is successful at school.
• Aged 60 or over: the pension is paid for life (until death).

2. TO DESCENDANTS AND GUARDIANS 

• If there is no surviving spouse, not separated, or person living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years: 
  • the pension is paid until they reach the age of 24, provided that up to the age of 18 they are in education, and between the ages of 18 and 24 they are in education and not in paid employment.
• If they are not descendants or guardians of the surviving spouse, who is not separated, or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years: 
  • the pension is paid until they reach the age of 24, provided that up to the age of 18 they are in school, and between the ages of 18 and 24 they are in education and not in paid employment.

The calculation of the monthly amount of the survivors’ pension for beneficiaries of the transitional social security regime who are members of the general contributory social security regime is different depending on whether or not the beneficiaries have completed the qualifying period for access to the survivors’ pension under the transitional regime (108 months).

1. FOR BENEFICIARIES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR ACCESS TO THE SURVIVORS’ PENSION UNDER THE TRANSITIONAL REGIME

The monthly amount of the survivors’ pension is calculated using the following calculation formula, and then applying a %:

Pf = Monthly Final Pension Amount (capped at R)

P = Monthly amount of the unified statutory pension, resulting from work completed under the transitional regime and the general regime.

P1 = Portion of the pension corresponding to the time worked in the transitional regime (until 1 October 2017), calculated taking into account the calculation formula of the transitional regime: P1 = MW x 0.75; where MW is the amount of the average salary obtained during the time worked in the transitional regime.

P2 = Portion of the pension corresponding to the period with a record of earnings in the general contributory regime (from 1 October 2017), calculated taking into account the calculation formula of the general regime, accounting for the entire career (N = N1 which is working time in the transitional regime + N2 which is the time with a record of earnings in the general regime; maximum limit of N is 360 months, corresponding to a complete career) and the reference remuneration of the general regime (R, which results from the average of the total remuneration recorded and revalorised of the best 120 months of the contributory career in the general regime): P2 = R x N/360

Y1 = Weighting for the time worked in the transitional regime (N1), in relation to the beneficiary's total career (N=N1+N2): Y1= N1/N1+N2 

Z = Weighting of the time worked under the transitional regime (N1) in relation to the maximum possible time worked under that regime (173 months): Z=N1/173

Y2 = Weighting for the time worked in the general contributory regime (N2), in relation to the beneficiary's total career (N=N1+N2): Y2= N2/N1+N2

F = Compensation factor, which allows the contribution effort to be amountd monthly: F = P2 x 0.35% x N2

If you have less than 120 months of contributions, the reference remuneration R is defined by R/n where R is the total of the registered remunerations and n is the number of months to which they correspond.

A % is then applied to the amount resulting from the calculation formula under the following conditions:

• 65% for pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years), when there are no dependent children or guardians of the couple
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the couple's dependent children up to the age of 24.
• 100% for pension awarded to the beneficiary's descendants or guardians, where there is no surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years). 
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the beneficiary's only descendants or guardians up to the age of 24.

The payment of the survivors’ pension is monthly, with 13 months counted each year (including an additional month of pension in December, equivalent to the 13th month).

2. FOR BENEFICIARIES WHO DID NOT FULFIL THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR ACCESS TO THE SURVIVORS’ PENSION UNDER THE TRANSITIONAL REGIME

The monthly amount of the survivors’ pension is calculated using the following calculation formula, and then applying a %:

P3 = Monthly Pension Amount (ceiling equivalent to the Rt amount)

Rt = Reference Remuneration, which is the average of the total recorded and revalorised remuneration of the best 120 months of the entire contributory career, including the career in the transitional regime and the career in the general regime.

If you have less than 120 months of contributions, the reference remuneration is defined by Rt/n where Rt is the total of the registered remunerations and n is the number of months to which they correspond.

N = Number of months of total career, including transitional and general regime (maximum of 360 months).

360 = Number of months for a full contributory career (30 years)

A % is then applied to the amount resulting from the calculation formula under the following conditions:

• 65% for pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years), when there are no dependent children or guardians of the couple
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the couple's dependent children up to the age of 24.
• 100% for pension awarded to the beneficiary's descendants or guardians, where there is no surviving spouse who is not separated (or a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years).
• 100% for a pension awarded to a surviving spouse who is not separated (or to a person who has been living with the beneficiary in a similar situation for more than 2 years) and to the beneficiary's only descendants or guardians up to the age of 24.

The payment of the survivors’ pension is monthly, with 13 months counted each year (including an additional month of pension in December, equivalent to the 13th month).

The survivors’ pension is paid monthly (13 months) until one of the following situations occurs:

• Death of the pensioner (pension entitlement ceases)
• Marriage or similar situation of the spouse of the person receiving the pension (pension entitlement ceases).
• Pensioner reaches age limit or finishes school (pension entitlement ceases)
• The maximum pension duration limit is reached (pension entitlement ceases)
• The children or guardians are in paid employment (pension payments are suspended from the following month).
• There is no proof of the educational situation of the children or guardians (the payment of the pension is suspended from the beginning of the corresponding school year).

In situations where payment of the pension is suspended, payment is resumed in the month following the month in which the facts that led to the suspension cease to exist.
 

Social Security pays the survivors’ pension monthly on the following dates:

• If the worker claims the pension by the 15th, it will be paid on the 25th of the same month. 
• If the worker claims the pension between the 16th and the end of the month, it will be paid the following month.

The survivors’ pension can be combined with income from work.