All persons residing or working in Switzerland are insured with the statutory old-age, survivors’ and invalidity pension scheme (AHV/IV). Therefore scientists are automatically enrolled.
There are several brochures about the Swiss social insurance system in different languages.
Contributions for the old-age-, survivors- and invalidity pension scheme are paid by both, employers and employees. Also self-employed and Swiss residents not working pay into the AHV/IV system. For more details refer to the Swiss Pension Landscape.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, or if Switzerland has concluded a social security agreement with your country, a refund is not possible (except for Chile, the Philippines, Australia and India) because your pension benefits are subject to coordination. If you have been covered only for a short time you may receive a lump sum payment instead of annuities.
A refund of contributions can be applied for if you live abroad and there is no social agreement with that country. Furthermore, the following criteria have to be met:
For a refund you have to send your application to the Swiss Compensation Office at Geneva. In order to do so you have to fill out the application form No. 602.101 for reimbursement of OASI contributions.
The Swiss legislation does not rule the recognition of pension insurance periods accumulated in other countries but according to the agreement on free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland, the EU regulation on the coordination of the national social security systems (EU-Regulation No. 883/2004 and No 987/2009) applies also to the Swiss social security system. Under the EEA Convention the social security systems are coordinated as well. Therefore, your times of pension insurance in Switzerland can be recognised if you are a citizen of an EU or EEA member state.
More information can be found on the AHV website and in the brochure “Leaving Switzerland and moving to an EU or EFTA member state”.
Before leaving Switzerland you should check if the contributions have correctly been credited to your individual account. To obtain a free extract of your individual account write to your compensation office (Ausgleichskasse) or go to www.ahv-iv.info. Please enclose a copy of your insurance card. Thereafter you should keep the Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva informed about your addresses abroad.
The address is:
Central compensation Office CCO
Av. Edmond-Vaucher, 18
P.O. Box 3000
1200 Geneva 2
Switzerland
The AHV provides old-age and survivors’ pensions.
Benefits in case of invalidity are offered by the invalidity insurance (IV). Like the AHV it is a mandatory insurance. The IV aims to secure the basic need by providing reintegration methods and monetary benefits.
You are entitled to an old-age or survivors’ pension if you have at least one year of relevant contributions. Years of full contributions can also be achieved by credits for child-raising or care for a relative in need.
The Swiss legislation does not rule the recognition of pension insurance periods accumulated in other countries but according to the agreement on free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland the EU regulation on the coordination of the national social security systems (EU-Regulation No. 883/2004 and No 987/2009) applies also to the Swiss social security system. Under the EEA Convention the social security systems are coordinated as well. Therefore your times of pension insurance in Switzerland can be recognized if you are a citizen of an EU or EEA member state.
More information can be found on the AHV website and in the brochure “Leaving Switzerland and moving to an EU or EFTA member state”.
If you relocate to an EU/EEA member state it is not possible to pay contributions to the voluntary Swiss AHV/IV scheme. Voluntary old-age, survivors‘- and invalidity insurance can only be continued on a voluntary basis if:
The calculation elements for an old-age pension are:
The individual average annual income is calculated on the basis of the average earned income and the average income for child- raising and child-care periods. There is an income splitting for married, divorced or widowed couples. A so called full old-age pension is being paid only to people who have paid contributions continuously starting with the 1st of January after the 20th until the legal retirement age. After 44 years of contribution for men and 43 years for women a minimum pension is paid which amounts to CHF 1.175 per month in 2018; the maximum pension amounts to CHF 2.350 per month for singles with an average income of CHF 84 600 or above (2018). The table to determine the relevant pension amount is called “Pension Scale 44”. You can find the present pension scale for a full pension (Rentenskala 44).
In general there will be a reduction in the pension amount of app. 2.3% (1/44) for every missing year upon reaching legal retirement age.
The Swiss Compensation Office provides the ESCAL website for all insured people resident in Switzerland or abroad. It can be used to calculate an online estimate of your old-age pension. This pension estimate is generated using a simplified calculation method and is based on the information given by the insured person. The pension estimate is indicative only and is not binding for the Swiss Compensation Office.
Information on Early/Late Retirement see question C1.
The standard legal retirement age is 65 for men and 64 for women.
Early retirement is possible 1 or 2 years before legal retirement age. The pension amount is reduced by 6.8% per year (2018). The reduction rate will be recalculated upon reaching legal retirement age.
If you continue working after the legal retirement age you will receive a fixed percentage bonus for each month.
For an old-age pension you should submit the application 4 to 3 months before legal retirement age. Be aware that other deadlines may apply for early or late retirement.
If you are a Swiss, EU or EEA national and residing in an EU or EEA member state:
Switzerland has concluded several bilateral social security agreements.
Link: List
Your pension might be paid out in most of these countries but not to all (e.g.India). Please check the AHV/IV website or ask the
Central compensation Office CCO
Av. Edmond-Vaucher, 18
P.O. Box 3000
1200 Geneva 2
Switzerland
If you live in your country of origin you can send the application form to the social security office in your place of residence. Otherwise you have to send the application to the Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva or in case of disability to the DI Office for living abroad OAEI in Geneva.
The calculation elements for an old-age pension are
The individual average annual income is calculated on the basis of the average earned income and the average income for child- raising and child-care periods. There is an income splitting for married, divorced or widowed couples. A so called full old-age pension is being paid only to people who have paid contributions continuously starting with the 1st of January after the 20th until the legal retirement age. After 44 years of contribution for men and 43 years for women the minimum pension is CHF 14 040 per year; the maximum pension amounts to CHF 28 080 per year for singles with an average income of CHF 84 240 or above (2018). The table to determine the relevant pension amount is called “Pension Scale 44”. Here you can find the present pension scale for a full pension (Rentenskala 44).
In general there will be a reduction in the pension amount of nearly 2.3% (1/44) for every missing year upon reaching legal retirement age. You will receive a partial pension according to the relevant pension scale (Rentenskala 1- 43).
Information on Early/Late Retirement see question C1.
Switzerland has concluded several bilateral social security agreements.
Link: List
Your pension might be paid out in most of these countries but not to all (e.g.India). Please check the AHV/IV website or ask the
Central compensation Office CCO
Av. Edmond-Vaucher, 18
P.O. Box 3000
1200 Geneva 2
Switzerland
If there is no social security agreement between Switzerland and your home country pensions cannot be paid abroad. But a refund of your contributions might be possible (see question No 8).
For more information go to the website of the Central Compensation Office.
