Why do we need this information?
AHV Contribution Gaps
Whether or not you are employed, you must pay contributions to the first pillar in order to receive the full benefits of the AHV pension upon your retirement (with Swiss residency).
If you are employed, you must make contributions from the 1st of January the year after you turn 17. Contributions are mandatory for as long as you are employed. If you are unemployed, contributions are mandatory from the 1st of January the year after you turn 20. This ends when you reach the typical retirement age (65 for men, 64 for women).
⚠️ Important
An incomplete period of contributions leads to a reduction of your AHV pension; in this case, a so-called part-pension is set up. In general, a missing year of pension contributions leads to a pension reduction of at least 1/44 (approximately 2.3%).
When do contribution gaps arise?
Contribution gaps often arise in the following situations:
- If you take on many short-term periods of work with different employers
- If you spend a long time living abroad
- If you receive a daily allowance from insurance for an accident or illness
- If you don't pay AHV contributions while you are a student
- If you move to Switzerland from abroad
📋 Example
If you move to Switzerland when you are, for example, 35 years old, you have 30 contribution years until you reach the typical retirement age. To receive a full pension, you are missing 14 contribution years, and as a result your pension will be reduced.
However, in this case, you would generally have access to a pension from your original country.
Can gaps be closed?
Gaps in payment can be closed by covering any missing contributions. However, this is only possible for gaps during which you were covered by Switzerland and which have occurred in the last 5 years. It is not possible to make contributions for earlier gaps.
How to check for gaps
You can find out about possible contribution gaps from your compensation fund (Ausgleichskasse). They can provide you with an individual account statement showing all your contribution years.
Learn more
Further information can be found here: