Old Age and Survivors‘ Insurance (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung, AHV)
Old Age and Survivors‘ Insurance pensions may be claimed by men from their 65th birthday and by women from their 64th birthday, provided they have paid contributions for at least one full year. Insured persons must submit their pension application to the AHV compensation office.
The pension is calculated on the basis of the relevant average income and the number of years that contributions have been paid. Contributions by persons who are not gainfully employed are converted into income. It is possible to begin drawing on the pension one to two years early, depending on the situation.
Under certain circumstances, children’s benefits and additional pension payments for the spouse are granted, and vulnerable persons may receive an allowance to pay for care. There may be an additional entitlement to supplementary benefits under some circumstances. These are means-tested benefits that are dependent on personal and financial circumstances.
Disability Insurance (Invalidenversicherung, IV)
Claims for disability benefits can be made in the basic state system under the Disability Insurance fund (IV, Pillar 1), the occupational pension fund (BV, Pillar 2) and possibly under private pension funds (Pillar 3).
Insured persons who are disabled or at immediate risk of becoming disabled are entitled to rehabilitation measures under the basic Disability Insurance scheme (IV) if such measures might enable them to return to work or improve or extend their fitness to work. The measures may take the form of medical interventions, measures of a professional nature such as special education and care for vulnerable persons under 20, and support equipment.
An additional daily allowance may be awarded in certain circumstances. The principle of "rehabilitation before pensions" applies.