2023 EISS Conference in Fulda (DE):
“Provision for Surviving Dependants in Social Security: A New Architecture for the 21st Century?”

After the festive edition of 2022, the European Institute of Social Security hosted its annual conference in collaboration with Fulda University of Applied Sciences in Fulda, Germany. The conference took place from 21-22 September on the topic of survivorship in the 21st century.

Our gratitude goes to Fulda University of Applied Sciences for their support in putting together the conference.

Background

Social security for surviving dependants was originally linked to the financial security of widows (and orphans) when the male sole breadwinner model was predominant. Survivors' benefits were therefore introduced primarily out of social considerations, in order to prevent poverty from occurring after the family breadwinner had ceased to exist.

In the present, on the other hand, the benefits are increasingly aimed at ensuring that widows and widowers can maintain their standard of living.

As a result of social change, it must be questioned whether the provisions for surviving dependants are up to date. Increased female employment, non-marital partnerships, same-sex partnerships and a drastic increase in the number of divorces are now a reality everywhere.

Some social security systems have already reacted to this, others are still in the process of reform. What recent reforms have there been in survivors' insurance in Europe? What is the international (legal) framework? What do developments in the global field look like? What happens in case of divorce? These were some of the questions discussed during the conference.