First pillar– STATE PENSION

Pillar 1 comprises old-age and survivors’ insurance, disability insurance (AHV/DI), and also supplementary benefits under loss-of-income insurance (EL). AHV/DI provides coverage to secure the livelihood of insured persons in old age, in a death case, or in the event of disability. The purpose of supplementary benefits is to secure livelihood if other state security benefits or your own income are not sufficient. As a general rule, all people working and living in Switzerland are covered by pillar 1 of the pension system.

Pillar 1 at a glance:

• AHV, DI, EO
• Mandatory state pension provision
• Main objective: to secure the livelihood of all people living and working in Switzerland

Invalidity Insurance (AI)

Invalidity insurance is a compulsory social insurance, which aims to reintegrate people with health-related incapacity to work back into the world of work.

If reintegration into professional life is not possible, the AI ​​helps to ensure their livelihood by paying cash pensions.

Definition of disability

There is disability under the AI ​​if a person cannot exercise (fully or partially), permanently or for a long time, gainful employment due to damage to physical, mental or psychological health, in turn due to congenital infirmity, illness or injury. Under the same conditions, a person is considered invalid even if he is no longer able to carry out the activities carried out up to now.

Who is insured with the AI?

All people residing or working in Switzerland are compulsorily insured with the AI. Under certain conditions, Swiss, EU and EFTA citizens, as long as they reside outside these countries, can optionally insure themselves with the AI.

Applications for benefits from the IV must be submitted to the IV office of the canton of residence. It is important to submit the application promptly: in the event of a late announcement there is a risk that benefits will be reduced.

The competent IV office clarifies which types of benefits are envisaged and their amount.