Pension ABC

The PRÉVOYANCE.NE is the occupational pension fund for all cantonal employees of the Canton of Neuchatel. The public employees of the University of Neuchatel are insured with the PRÉVOYANCE.NE if they fulfill the requirements below. 
 
From the age of 18 up all persons

• which are employed in a company registered and operated in Switzerland and 

• are resident in Switzerland with an annual income of at least CHF 21’330 (year 2019) and 

• are subject to Swiss social security system 

 have to join the occupational pension fund insurance by law in Switzerland. 
 
The employment contract has to be issued for at least more than 3 months.

There is no choice. The employee has to join the pension fund which has been chosen by the employer, if the criteria in point 1 are met. 
 

This is regulated by law. That means the employer’s contribution has to be at least 50% of the premium. It is up to the employer to pay more than 50% of the premium. The employee pays the rest. 
 
The contribution amount to be paid by the employees depends on the individual age and the level of employment, respectively the insured salary. 
 
More information about the respective contributions to be paid can be found at: 
 
Link: Tableau des cotisations 
 

Your options depend on your coming employment status: 
 
1) If you change employers in Switzerland, 
you will change to the new employer’s occupational pension fund in Switzerland. In this case, the total amount of your accumulated capital, the so called 
 
“Prestation de libre passage (PLP)” = termination benefit 
 
is transferred from your previous occupational retirement fund to the new one. The capital must always remain in the retirement fund of your current employer. In general, it is not possible to dispose of the money freely, it may be withdrawn under certain conditions only. 
 
Link: Libre passage 
 
When changing jobs make sure that all your termination benefits have been sent to your new employer’s retirement fund correctly. 
 
 
2) If you continue to reside in Switzerland, but are no longer employed and not yet retired, 
you have the following options: 
The termination benefit can be transferred into: 

• a special blocked bank account (so called comptes de libre passage =vested benefits account) 

• or a blocked insurance policy (so called polices de libre passage= vested benefits policy) 

• or the so called auxiliary fund (Fondation Institution supplétive = Auffangeinrichtung)* 

 However, you have to inform your employer about your decision. Should you not make a decision the PRÉVOYANCE.NE will transfer the termination benefit to the auxiliary fund (BVG) 6 months after the termination at the earliest. More information about the auxiliary fund (www.chaeis.net – Phone: 0041 41 799 75 75). 
 
*The auxiliary fund is a special retirement fund. If you leave your job without instructing your employer´s retirement fund what to do with the accumulated capital, the fund will transfer the termination benefit to an auxiliary fund. This happens no later than 2 years after the termination of employment. Your insurance cover is maintained.

In Switzerland you will receive the whole pension capital accrued and possibly paid in as the so called termination benefit and not only the pure refund of your personal contributions. To learn more about when this is possible, please refer to A4 and A6.

Should you leave Switzerland permanently, your options depend on 
 
1) if you have emigrated to a non-EU/non-EFTA state you can choose whether you 
 

• apply for payment (Barauszahlung) of your accumulated capital (termination benefit); please note: after having received the termination benefit, any payment of retirement- or other benefits is impossible. The cash payment will be after deduction of the source tax or 

• maintain the retirement fund cover (options in this case see below, 3)) If you apply for payment within 6 months after your contract has ended, an application must be submitted to your last employer’s retirement fund (prévoyance.ne). You can do this before leaving Switzerland. Your employer will provide you with the necessary forms when you leave the occupational fund. 

 
2) if you have emigrated to an EU/EFTA state and are not subject to any social insurance, see 1) 
 
3) if you have emigrated to an EU/EFTA state and are subject to any social insurance in that country, you can withdraw just part (the non-compulsory portion) of the accrued capital. The obligatory part has to stay in Switzerland until you will retire. In this case, the termination benefit can be transferred into 
 

• a special blocked bank account (so called comptes de libre passage =vested benefits account) 

• or a blocked insurance policy (so called polices de libre passage = vested benefits policy) 

• or the so called auxiliary fund 

 
However, you have to inform your last pension scheme about your decision. Should you not make a decision the PRÉVOYANCE.NE will transfer the cash termination benefit to the auxiliary fund (BVG) 6 month after the termination at the earliest. More information about the auxiliary fund (www.chaeis.net – Phone: 0042 41 799 75 75) 
 
4) Shouldn’t you have applied for cash payment of the termination benefit, the retirement fund cover remains in the 2nd pillar-account. In general, the occupational retirement fund of your last employer will transfer your termination benefit to the auxiliary fund no sooner than six months and no later than two years after you leave your job. Then an application for payment must be addressed to the auxiliary fund. 
 
Address: 
 
Stiftung Auffangeinrichtung BVG 
Administration Freizügigkeitskonten 
 
Postfach 
8036 Zürich 
 
Email: fzk@chaeis.ch 
Internet: http://www.chaeis.net/ 
 

You can address the Central Office of the 2nd pillar. They can find out if you still have any money in the auxiliary fund or in an occupational pension fund in Switzerland. 
 
Form: http://www.zentralstelle.ch/documents/EN_Fragebogen_2010_11.pdf 
 
Address: 
Central Office of the 2nd pillar: 
Postfach 1023, 3000 Bern 14 
Tel. 031 380 79 75 
Fax 031 380 7976 
E-Mail: info@zentralstelle.ch 
Internet: http://www.zentralstelle.ch/xml_2/internet/de/intro.cfm 

• B1. What are the benefits of PRÉVOYANCE.NE? 

• B2. Is there a qualifying period to be entitled to a pension? 

• B3. How high can I expect my pension to be? 

• B4. Can I increase my future pension by paying additional contributions? 

The occupational pension provision with PRÉVOYANCE.NE contains:

• retirement pensions 

• disability pensions 

• survivors’ pensions 

There is no minimum period to be entitled to a pension.

The pension amount depends on the earned salaries, the period of insurance and the amount paid into the pension fund insurance plan or scheme. Every insured employee gets a 2nd pillar benefit certificate (Fiche d`assurance) once a year. On this statement you will find your pension capital accrued and other necessary information. 
 
Find an example here: 
http://www.prevoyance.ne.ch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/150128-FA-pour-site.pdf

Yes, it is possible to increase the future pension by paying an additional contribution into the pension fund insurance, which is called “apport” or “rachats de prestations”. This amount depends on the amount of the earning and the amount, which has been paid into the insurance already. 
 
When receiving the 2nd pillar benefit certificate (Fiche d`assurance) you can also find information on the maximum amount payable in order to increase your pension benefit (Buy-In, in French apport or rachat de prestations). 
 
Find more information here: 
https://www.prevoyance.ne.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Brochure_rachat_2019.pdf 

The normal / regular retirement age is 64 years for women and 65 years for men. Nevertheless you may declare or state your desire to go on pension earlier, as of your 58th birthday but this would result in a pension reduction. 
 
You may have the option/ possibility to remain insured until the age of 70, provided you and your employer have agreed on your further employment.

The pension amount depends on the earned salaries, the period of insurance and the amount paid into the pension fund insurance plan or scheme. Every insured employee gets a 2nd pillar benefit certificate (Fiche d`assurance) once a year. On this statement you will find your pension capital accrued and other necessary information. 
 
Find an example here: 
http://www.prevoyance.ne.ch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/150128-FA-pour-site.pdf

You can address to the Central Office of the 2nd pillar. They can find out if there is still have any money in the auxiliary fund or in a retirement fund. 
 Form: http://www.zentralstelle.ch/documents/EN_Fragebogen_2010_11.pdf 
 
Address: 
Central Office of the 2nd pillar: 
Postfach 1023, 3000 Bern 14 
Tel. 031 380 79 75 
Fax 031 380 7976 
E-Mail: info@zentralstelle.ch 
Internet: http://www.zentralstelle.ch/xml_2/internet/de/intro.cfm