Swiss Passport

AHV, IV and supplementary benefits

Topic

The AHV is the most important social insurance in Switzerland. AHV stands for old-age and survivors' insurance. It pays a pension in old age. It also pays the survivors: these are widows, widowers and orphans when someone dies. The AHV is compulsory for everyone who lives or works in Switzerland.

Closely linked to the AHV is the IV, the invalidity insurance. It helps people who can no longer work, or can only work part of the time, because of illness or an accident. First, the IV tries to bring the person back into working life. Only if that is not possible does it pay a pension. Contributions to the AHV and IV are deducted directly from wages.

The standard retirement age is now called the reference age. It is 65. For women, it has been rising step by step from 64 to 65 since the AHV 21 reform. From 2028, 65 applies to everyone. In addition, from December 2026 there is a 13th AHV pension payment each year.

Sometimes the AHV or IV pension is not enough for the bare necessities. Then there are supplementary benefits (EL). They help if, despite a pension, you do not reach the subsistence minimum. Supplementary benefits are not a gift but a right. However, you must apply for them. They are not paid for by wage contributions but with tax money from the Confederation and the cantons.

Memory aid: AHV: old age and survivors. IV: invalidity. EL: a supplement when it is not enough.

The three pillars

Reference age 65

First pillar

Erste Säule

State pension provision with the AHV and IV, compulsory for everyone.

Second pillar

Zweite Säule

Occupational pension provision, also called the pension fund or BVG.

Third pillar

Dritte Säule

Voluntary private pension provision, for example pillar 3a.

State, job, self: 1st pillar from the state (AHV), 2nd pillar through your job (pension fund), 3rd pillar you save yourself.

Supplementary benefits Extra money if the pension is not enough for the subsistence minimum.

Key terms

AHV
Old-age and survivors' insurance: it pays pensions in old age and to survivors.
IV
Invalidity insurance: it helps people who can no longer work fully because of illness or an accident.
Referenzalter
Reference age: the standard retirement age, now 65.
Ergänzungsleistungen (EL)
Supplementary benefits: extra money if the pension is not enough for the subsistence minimum.

Exam questions on this topic

  1. What is a Swiss social insurance?Correct answer: C, Old-age, survivors' and invalidity insurance (AHV/IV)
  2. What does AHV stand for?Correct answer: A, Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung (old-age and survivors' insurance)
  3. Which insurance is compulsory in Switzerland?Correct answer: A, old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV)
  4. What is a social insurance in Switzerland?Correct answer: B, invalidity insurance (IV)
  5. What does the abbreviation IV stand for?Correct answer: D, Invalidenversicherung (invalidity insurance)
  6. What is the standard retirement age in Switzerland?Correct answer: C, 65 for women and men
  7. When can someone receive so-called supplementary benefits?Correct answer: C, When, despite an IV or AHV pension, you do not reach the subsistence minimum.

Sources

Last checked: September 2026