Who is entitled to receive invalidity insurance benefits?

All persons living or working in Switzerland are compulsorily insured under IV/AI. To receive IV/AI benefits, you must fulfil several conditions.

Nationals of an EU or EFTA Member State have the same rights as Swiss citizens. If you come from another country, benefits may be limited once you return to your country of origin if that country has not concluded a social security agreement with Switzerland.

Swiss citizens and nationals of EU or EFTA countries living in a country outside Switzerland or the EU/EFTA zone have the option, under certain conditions, of joining the voluntary IV/AI scheme.

You need to contact your IV/AI office.

If you live in Switzerland, you need to contact the IV/AI office in your canton.

Cross-border commuters need to contact the IV/AI office in the canton where they work.

If you live and work abroad, contact the IV/AI office for people living abroad.

In order to receive benefits, you need to complete an application form for IV/AI benefits (form available in German, French and Italian).

Once you have submitted your request, the IV/AI office will review your file to determine whether you are eligible to receive IV/AI benefits, and if so, what type.

It is in your interest to register as soon as possible. If you wait too long, your benefits may be reduced.

Rehabilitation measures

The purpose of rehabilitation measures (web page available in German, French and Italian) is to help you maintain or increase your earning capacity in a sustainable and significant way.

IV/AI benefits also include counselling, training, job placement and guidance services as well as occupational therapy to help you keep your job or find a new one.

Invalidity insurance can also cover medical services and provide medical aids such as a wheelchair or hearing aids.

Support for entering the working world and therapy is also available for persons with mental disorders.

If you are taking part in rehabilitation measures, but do not receive a pension, you are entitled to receive a daily allowance based on your last salary. In addition, travel and childcare costs are covered during rehabilitation.

IV/AI pension

If the rehabilitation measures are not possible or inadequate, the IV/AI office examines the right to an invalidity pension (web page available in German, French and Italian). To receive a pension, your capacity to work must have been reduced by an average of at least 40% for one year and the situation must appear to be irreversible.

The amount of the pension is calculated individually; it depends on the degree of invalidity, the qualifying income and your years of contributions.

If you receive an IV/AI pension and have children, you are also entitled to receive a pension for each child under the age of 18 (25 for children still in school). The amount per child is 40% of your IV/AI pension.

You may also receive a disability pension from the accident insurance or the military insurance.

Invalidity allowance

You are entitled to receive an invalidity allowance (web page available in German, French and Italian) if you are unable to perform two basic activities of daily life on your own, such as getting dressed, getting up, going to bed, preparing meals, eating and washing.

The allowance is paid in addition to the IV/AI pension. It is calculated to cover the extent of your limitations. Only persons living in Switzerland are entitled to receive it.

You may also receive an invalidity allowance from the accident insurance or the military insurance.

Assistance contribution

If you receive an IV/AI invalidity allowance, live at home and pay someone outside of the family to help you with basic activities, you are entitled to receive an IV/AI assistance contribution (web page available in German, French and Italian). This could help you avoid having to move into a home for the elderly.

The amount of the assistance contribution is based on the required qualifications for the hired help and the time it takes the help to provide assistance.

Supplementary benefits

If the total cash benefits paid to you by the IV/AI are not enough to cover your basic needs, you are entitled to receive supplementary benefits.