Swiss Social Security.
Every employee in Switzerland is required to contribute to the country’s social security system. The system is built upon a group of insurance intended to provide short-term assistance to those in need. These assistance programs are all funded jointly by employers and employees through your salary as well as directly through Swiss taxes.
All employees in Switzerland must participate in each program, and the funding is deducted from your paycheck directly or through a predetermined contribution on your tax return. The AHV system (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung) is managed by the Department of Old-age and Survivors Insurance, or OASI.
How do you determine your Social Security payments?
Your AHV social security number is used to determine your overall system contributions as well as any potential benefits you may be eligible to receive. This number will be used by each organization to assess benefits and keep track of all the services you have accessed.
Disability insurance in Switzerland.
Swiss disability insurance is available to you if you are or have become disabled. This kind of insurance is made to help those who, because of their disability, need more assistance or money to support themselves. In addition to financial compensation and a helplessness allowance, the services include training and career counselling. The system is in place to ensure that a disability does not lower your quality of life or the quality of life for your family.
Swiss unemployment insurance benefits.
Switzerland provides financial assistance to help you transition to a new career or find a new job if you recently lost your job. While you search for a new job, the system is built to keep your income steady. How much you contributed to social security and how long you were employed determine your potential income from unemployment benefits in Switzerland.
Family allowance in Switzerland.
The Swiss child and family allowance is one of the benefits available to all couples with kids or dependents. This is a fixed payment made by the government to assist families raising children by helping to defray the extra expenses associated with raising a child, such as childcare or public transportation in Switzerland. It is accessible to all parents and will continue to be given until the child turns 25 (providing they are still in school).
Paternity leave and maternity pay in Switzerland.
The birth of a child is a joyous occasion. You are entitled to maternity benefits after your baby is born. This enables you to use paid time off to care for your child while they are still a baby. In Switzerland, men have recently gained the right to paid paternity leave as well.
Insurance for accidents and occupational diseases in Switzerland.
Switzerland’s accident and occupational disease insurance is available to you if you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault. In this system, employees receive compensation if they are hurt in an accident that occurs before, during, or after the workday or if they come into contact with something that makes them ill. Benefits may include monetary compensation or the funding of Swiss healthcare expenses.
Swiss welfare
If you are not eligible for any other forms of insurance, you can apply for welfare. Swiss welfare is designed as a last resort for those who have exhausted all other forms of social security and do not have the means to support themselves or their family. The system supplies individuals and families with a subsistence income, alongside career advice, training, work projects and other forms of service. Welfare is designed to get you back into work, or into higher-paying work so that you can support yourself and your family.
