Our Sincere Condolences
The GAC-EPA Committee extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends.
We hope that this page will help facilitate certain administrative procedures during these particularly difficult times.
Information and Useful Procedures for Families
The loss of a loved one is always a difficult time, during which administrative procedures may seem complex and sometimes urgent.
The purpose of this page is to assist you with administrative procedures specifically related to the status of a beneficiary of the CERN Pension Fund. For all other procedures, we recommend contacting the appropriate authorities (e.g. your notary, banks and insurance providers, local authorities, or funeral service provider), who will be able to guide you according to your personal situation.
The GAC-EPA is not involved in the management of benefits or insurance matters, but wishes to facilitate access to relevant information and direct families to the appropriate organisations.
Who Must Be Informed URGENTLY at CERN?
You should inform the CERN Pension Fund as soon as possible, ideally before the end of the month in which the death occurred. The procedure is described on the Pension Fund website: https://pensionfund.cern.ch/en/informing-us-about-death
If a surviving spouse or children are covered by the CERN Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS), it is essential to contact CHIS as soon as possible after the death in order to confirm that they wish to remain covered by this health insurance scheme. You have only 30 days to complete this procedure.
This information must be communicated to the third-party administrator UNIQA: https://chis.web.cern.ch/en/third-party-administrator-uniqa
What Happens to the Surviving Spouse’s or Orphan’s Pension?
Depending on the status of the deceased beneficiary, the following benefits may be payable:
For further information, please consult the Pension Fund Rules and Regulations and contact the Pension Fund: pension.benefits@cern.ch
Official Information and Useful Resources
Official procedures and the most recent forms are available directly from the relevant organisations.
CERN Pension Fund
CHIS Health Insurance (CERN Health Insurance Scheme)
Information for CERN Pensioners
The information provided on this page is for guidance only. In the event of any discrepancy, only the information published by the competent organisations shall be considered authoritative.
Informing the GAC-EPA Community
Many families wish to inform former CERN colleagues and friends of the passing of a member of our community.
To facilitate this process, the GAC-EPA provides a form that allows families to prepare a death notice which may be distributed to members who have chosen to receive this type of information.
Such distribution is entirely optional and is carried out only at the request of the family.
Submit a Death Notice
The form allows you to provide, among other things:
- The name of the deceased person;
- The date of death;
- A short message or tribute;
- Information regarding the funeral service or memorial ceremony, if the family wishes to share it;
- The contact details of the contact person.
Please use the this link to access the form.
Upon receipt, the GAC-EPA may distribute the information to members who have chosen to receive death notices and, where appropriate, publish a notice through its communication channels.
Data Protection
The information provided through the form will be used exclusively for GAC-EPA activities and in accordance with the wishes expressed by the family.
No information will be published or distributed without the explicit authorisation of the family or of the person submitting the declaration.