The Swiss Old-Age, Survivors and Invalidity Insurance system is built on three pillars.

• the first pillar – or old-age, survivors and disability insurance (OASI/IV) – provides general cover, is compulsory for everyone in Switzerland, and is intended to cover the basic living costs of the insured.
• the second pillar – or occupational pension provision – is compulsory for all employees. Together with the first pillar, the occupational pension should enable the insured to maintain the standard of living that they enjoyed prior to their retirement.
• the third pillar is private pension provision.

Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and the Invalidity Insurance (IV)

Federal Social Insurance Office, Switzerland: Social security in Switzerland

The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance scheme (OASI) provides two types of pension:

• the old-age pension, which is paid out from retirement onwards, should allow beneficiaries to enjoy a relatively financially secure retirement
• the survivors pension helps widows, widowers and orphans overcome financial difficulties resulting from the death of an insured spouse or parent

Invalidity insurance (IV) benefits are granted to individuals whose earning capacity is reduced because of health problems. The purpose of the IV is to assist the professional and social reintegration of these working-age beneficiaries.

The Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) and the invalidity insurance office for the insured who live abroad (OAIE/IVST) are the points of contact within the Central Compensation Office (CCO) for all matters relating to Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI), Invalidity Insurance (IV), as well as the Swiss voluntary OASI/IV scheme for individuals who no longer live in Switzerland (membership, contributions, pensions etc.).

Central Compensation Office CCO: Summary

OASI/DI: Leaflets, forms, compensation offices, contacts

Application for an old-age pension/a survivor's pension for persons residing outside Switzerland