Invalidity insurance (AI)

If you are employed, you need not worry about your social security contributions as it is your employer’s responsibility to pay them into our Compensation Fund.  For all administrative purposes, AVS/AI/APG contributions are taken together at an overall rate of 10.60%.  Within this overall rate, AVS is 8.4%, AI is 1.4% and APG is 0.50%. Your employer will deduct from your gross salary a part of the contributions due (5.30%) and will pay in himself an identical share (5.30%).  The obligation terminates when you reach retirement age and cease all gainful employment.  If you carry on working, contributions will be levied after deduction of an exemption of CHF 1,400 per month or CHF 16,800 per year.  

Insured persons must take an active part in the implementation of all reasonable measures that contribute to work rehabilitation.  Before putting in a claim for benefits, together with the AI office you should examine early prevention and early detection measures. As a rule, the AI pays a daily allowance to insured persons over 18 years of age who have an incapacity for work equal to or greater than 50%, and who undergo rehabilitation.  You may be granted benefits depending on the degree of your disability, insofar as your earnings capacity, or your capacity to carry out usual occupational activities, cannot be re-established by rehabilitation. In the event that the AI benefits are insufficient to cover your basic needs, you can request supplementary benefits. Moreover, in cases when a person’s injury requires care-taking or qualified service personnel, the AI may grant helplessness benefits.

If you wish to apply for AI benefits, you must put in a claim as soon as possible at the AI office in the canton where you live. They will process your application and determine whether you have a right to benefits, as well as assess your degree of disability.  Please note that the decision lies entirely with the AI office - our Compensation Fund is only a payment office.