FUTURA A to Z

What happens in the event of a divorce?

In the event of a divorce in Switzerland, the pension fund assets accumulated during the marriage are generally divided. Each spouse is generally entitled to half of the assets acquired during the marriage. The division takes the form of an equalization payment to the pension fund or to a vested benefits account of the other partner.

Since January 1, 2017, joint assets have also been divided if one of the spouses already receives a disability or retirement pension from the 2nd pillar.

Under certain conditions, the divorced spouse is also entitled to benefits from the pension fund.

The court is responsible for definitively determining the amount to be transferred.

What are shift allowances?

Shift allowances are additional payments made by employers to employees working shifts in order to compensate for the special burdens and restrictions caused by atypical working hours. They are part of the salary subject to AHV contributions and must therefore be taken into account when calculating the reported annual AHV salary.

Can I withdraw the retirement assets if I am self-employed?

A cash payment of the termination benefit is possible if someone becomes self-employed as their main occupation in Switzerland and is no longer subject to mandatory occupational benefits insurance. The person must prove to the pension fund that they are self-employed (e.g. by means of rental contracts, purchase of materials, AHV confirmation, entry in the commercial register). The application must be submitted in the year following the start of self-employment. Married persons require the written consent of their spouse.

The entitlement to further benefits from the pension fund expires when the retirement assets are withdrawn.

What happens to my pension fund assets if I change jobs?

If you change jobs, your pension assets are transferred to the pension fund of your new employer. Alternatively, it can be transferred to a vested benefits account or a vested benefits policy.

The insured person must indicate where the capital is to be transferred to. If no notification is received, a vested benefits account is automatically opened with the Substitute Occupational Benefit Institution after 6 months.

The application for cash payment (transfer of the money to a private account) can be made under certain conditions (see under "Emigration").

If you are looking for occupational pension assets, you can submit a written request to the 2nd Pillar Central Office.

The 2nd Pillar Central Office is the link between the BVG pension funds and the insured persons. All 2nd pillar institutions and institutions that manage vested benefits accounts and policies are obliged to report assets to the Central Office.

The request should be sent to the following address:

Central office 2nd pillar
BVG Guarantee Fund
Eigerplatz 2
P.O. Box 1023
3000 Berne 14

+41 31 380 79 75

In the event of a request and agreement, the beneficiary and the institution will be informed. The decision to make a payment is made by the institution.