Disability insurance (IV) in Switzerland: basics before pension age
Published 2026-10-19 · Updated 2026-10-19 · 2 min read · 3 sources · Verified Swiss federal benchmarks
Direct answer
AHV-IV covers disability before reference retirement age through integration measures and, if needed, IV pensions. Apply early when illness or accident limits work capacity; benefits depend on legal criteria and contributions, not on private savings. Full old-age AHV later ranges CHF 1,260–2,520 per month with 44 contribution years; IV and AHV are coordinated so you do not double-dip past rules.
Key facts
- IV aims at integration (work, training, aids) before cash pensions.
- Same contribution base as AHV; gaps reduce future pensions (~1/44 per missing year).
- Medical evidence and insured earning capacity drive decisions.
- Reference age 65; IV stops or converts as old-age rules take over.
- Free IK extract; five-year back-pay window for some corrections.
Integration before pension
IV is not a private disability product. It is social insurance funded with AHV contributions. The system prioritises keeping you in work or retraining you before paying a full disability pension.
Caseworkers, doctors, and employers supply reports on capacity and reasonable adjustments. Starting when problems first stabilise is better than waiting until savings are gone.
BVG disability coverage from your pension fund is a separate contract layer with its own definitions and offsets.
Income picture (illustration)
Assume (not a forecast) partial disability where legal tests qualify you for a partial IV pension. Income might combine reduced employment, IV share, and employer sick pay for a limited period.
Only the compensation office can quote your insured income and degree of disability. Do not plan on a generic percentage from internet forums.
| Source | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Employer / sick pay | Short or medium term | Contract limited |
| IV pension | If integration insufficient | Individual calculation |
| AHV at 65+ | Old-age pension | Separate from IV youth benefits |
Protect your future AHV
IV periods may credit contribution years under specific rules. Check your free IK extract on ahv-iv.ch.
Youth years 17–20 can fill up to three gap years toward 44. Each missing year still reduces a future full pension by about one forty-fourth.
Early IV take-up does not replace planning for reference age 65 when IV pensions generally end or transition to AHV.
Second example: bridge to 65 (assumed)
Assume (not a forecast) age 58 with IV partial pension paying CHF 1,100 per month and part-time work netting CHF 2,000. Until 65 you might rely on that mix plus savings; at 65 AHV could add CHF 1,800 if your record qualifies—illustration only, not a forecast.
Married couples must watch combined AHV caps of CHF 3,780 when both receive old-age pensions later.
Common mistakes
Waiting until employment is terminated to file, losing months of integration support.
Assuming IV equals last salary; partial benefits are common.
Working off the books and breaching earning limits, triggering reclaim.
Ignoring BVG disability application deadlines at the pension fund.
FAQ
- Should I wait until my doctor is certain?
- File when disability is likely to last and work is already affected. IV can arrange assessments while you still work part time.
- Does IV replace my salary 100%?
- Rarely. Partial disability yields partial benefits. Other insurances may fill gaps temporarily.
- Can I work and receive IV?
- Yes within earning limits and review cycles. Exceeding allowed earnings can reduce or stop IV.
- What happens at 65?
- IV pensions generally end or transition as AHV old-age pension starts. Plan the handover year with both offices.
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