Old-age and survivors insurance in Switzerland
Since January 1, 1997, date of entry into force of the last (10th) revision of the OASI, widows and married women without gainful activity are now subject to the obligation to contribute.
[4] People domiciled in Switzerland, but not engaged in gainful activity, are also required to pay contributions based on assets and income acquired in the form of an annuity.
Until the 19th century, it generally fell to families, charities and churches to care for elderly people unable to work.
Between 1883 and 1889, Otto von Bismarck established social insurance (sickness, accidents, disability and old age) in Germany.
[5] At the same time, voices were raised in Switzerland to demand the establishment of social measures making it possible, in particular, to fight against the glaring poverty of working families.
During the Second World War (1939–1945), the Federal Council took advantage of its extraordinary powers to promote the development of social insurance.
On July 6, 1947, during a second vote, the federal law on old-age and survivors insurance (LAVS in french) was widely accepted by the people.
Combined with additional benefits, introduced in 1966, the OASI pension guarantees the minimum subsistence level, in accordance with the aim enshrined in the Constitution.
Several projects as well as popular initiatives have failed before the people, the last time on September 24, 2017, date of rejection of the 2020 Old Age Insurance reform, which provided for adaptations to both the OASI and occupational pensions.
That for women, on the other hand, has been modified several times; originally, it was also set at 65 years, but a couple's pension was paid from the moment the man was 65 and his wife 60.
In 1979, the threshold age giving entitlement to a couple's pension was raised for women to 62 years as part of the consolidation plan provided for by the 9th revision of the AVS.
[9] In the second version of the draft 11th revision of the OASI, the Federal Council proposed to Parliament to increase the retirement age for women to 65 and to encourage early retirement for people of modest means through financial support.
This means that half of the income obtained during the marriage by both the husband and the wife is recorded in the account of the other spouse.
This website complements the compensation funds which can provide information on retirement-related issues at any time, regardless of the age of the applicant.
However, these estimates on this website are based on hypothetical elements, the calculations of which imply that the amounts announced are indicative.
[17][18] After the successive failures of pension reform[19] – eleventh revision 2004 then in 2010, eleventh revision bis (2010), project to reduce the conversion rate of the second pillar in 2010 and “Old age provision 2020” in 2017 –, Federal Councilor Alain Berset presents another project, entitled “AVS 21”.
[22] An initiative filed on July 18, 2021by the young PLR with 107,000 signatures proposes at the same time to raise the retirement age to improve the financing of the OASI, by harmonizing the retirement ages of men and women at 66 years.
Entitled “For secure and lasting old age provision”, the initiative was criticized by the youth sections of the PBD, PDC, PEV, PVL and UDC parties, who considered that it called into question an old agreement.
Feminist associations and the USS highlight the current inequalities in the retirement system, with women receiving 37% less on average than men.
It is also possible to postpone the pension for people who wish to continue professional activity beyond the ordinary retirement age.
[33][34] During the federal votes of March 2024, the initiative was accepted by a double majority (of the people and the cantons).
