How can I apply for supplementary benefits?

1. What are supplementary benefits?

If your pension no longer covers your minimum living costs, you can apply for supplementary benefits from old age and survivors’ insurance (OASI) and invalidity insurance. If you are in need of care, for example, you could soon struggle to get by on your pension.

According to the Federal Constitution, pensions provided by old age and survivors’ insurance (German/French/Italian abbreviation: AHV/AVS/AVS) and invalidity insurance (German/French/Italian abbreviation: IV/AI/AI) must cover the minimum cost of living. This is why people who receive OASI and invalidity insurance pensions in Switzerland are legally entitled to supplementary benefits (German/French/Italian abbreviation: EL/PS/PS) if they are short of money.

Around half of the recipients of invalidity insurance pensions and around 12% of OASI recipients receive subsidies from these supplementary benefits, and this trend is rising.

2. Am I entitled to supplementary benefits?

The conditions for entitlement to supplementary benefits are residence in Switzerland and the receipt of one of the following pensions:

• OASI or invalidity insurance benefits

• Helplessness allowance of invalidity insurance (after reaching 18 years of age)

• Daily allowances of invalidity insurance (for at least six months)

• Widow’s/widower’s or orphan’s pension

Citizens from non-EU/EFTA countries residing in Switzerland do not receive supplementary benefits until they have lived in Switzerland for a certain period of time. This is five years for nationals of non-EU/EFTA countries with a treaty or refugees, and ten years for nationals of countries without a treaty.

3. What are the supplementary benefits?

If your expenses are higher than your income, you should register for supplementary benefits. There are two categories of supplementary benefits:

• Regular monthly contributions

• Contributions for uncovered medical and disability-related expenses

Contributions for uncovered medical and disability-related expenses

In addition to the monthly benefits, the supplementary benefits also pay contributions for any uncovered medical and disability costs. These include:

• Dental bills

• Expenses for care and support not covered by compulsory health insurance 

• Medically prescribed recovery and spa treatments

• Necessary aids and transport to the nearest medical treatment location

In addition, the supplementary benefits contribute up to 1,000 francs per year to the deductible and the coinsurance for compulsory health insurance. This corresponds to the maximum out-of-pocket expenses with the minimum deductible.

The annual maximum amounts for uncovered sickness and disability costs are 25,000 francs for single people, 50,000 francs for married couples and 6,000 francs for residents of a home. In some cantons, the maximum amounts are higher. However, the amounts are always only as high as the actual costs and will only be paid out if no other insurance (health insurance, accident insurance, liability insurance, OASI or invalidity insurance) covers the costs.

4. How high are the supplementary benefits?

The amount of the supplementary benefits varies from canton to canton. A provisional estimate of the regular contributions can be obtained anonymously using the supplementary benefits calculator (link not available in English).

5. How do I apply for supplementary benefits?

You don’t automatically receive supplementary benefits. You have to apply for them.

Normally, you can apply in the commune you live in or as a home resident in the commune you previously lived in. Please bear in mind: depending on the commune or canton, the relevant authorities may be called differently, for example “compensation office”, “OASI office”, “social insurance Institution” or different terms in German, French or Italian. You can find a list of the responsible offices here.