No changes to the social security key figures for 2026

The key figures for social security institutions remain unchanged from the previous year. The 13th OASI pension payment has no impact on the social security key figures or the maximum basic OASI pension. The 13th OASI pension payment will be paid out in addition to the ordinary pension in December. All social security key figures for 2026 can be found in “Helvetia – News on the 2nd pillar 2026” for details.

The 13th OASI pension payment is coming

The 13th OASI pension payment will be one twelfth of the OASI pensions drawn from January to December. It will be paid out for the first time inDecember 2026. While the 13th OASI pension payment has been agreed on, discussions are still underway as to how it should be financed, and the National Council and the Council of States have not yet been able to reach an decision. The debate will continue in Parliament in early 2026.

Greater cover for low-income earners

OASI contributions do not have to be paid for annual salaries of less than CHF 2,500, although contributions can be deducted on request. In certain sectors, the exemption from the obligation to pay contributions does not apply (e.g. household help, cultural sector). From 1 January 2026, the list of sectors which are exempt from the waiver of contributions will be expanded to include companies in the fields of design, museums, electronic media and print media and choirs.

Young people to be better insured following an accident in future

If a young person who is not in gainful employment has an accident, their health insurance fund covers the medical costs. However, if they have a relapse or still suffer from long-term consequences after taking up gainful employment, no daily allowances are paid under the Accident Insurance Act (AIA). An amendment to the AIA is intended to change this. The daily allowance under the AIA will now be insured for young people until the end of the calendar year in which they turn 25.

Pillar 3a purchases possible for the first time in 2026

Anyone who has not paid in the full pillar 3a contribution of CHF 7,258 in 2025 will be able to make up for this for the first time next year with a purchase. However, all of the following requirements must be met:

• Income subject to OASI contributions must have been earned in 2025 and 2026.
• The maximum contribution for 2026 of CHF 7,258 must have already been paid in.
• No retirement benefits may have been drawn from pillar 3 to date.
• Any subsequent purchase must be equal to the difference between the maximum contribution for 2025 and the pillar 3a contributions actually paid in 2025, up to a maximum of CHF 7,258.

The maximum pillar 3a contributions for 2026 remain unchanged at CHF 7,258 for persons with a pension fund and 20% of net income (up to a maximum of CHF 36,288) for self-employed persons without a pension fund.

Parliament currently debating various other issues 

• OASI provides for different benefits for widows and widowers. This unequal treatment was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights in 2022. Appropriate adjustments are currently being discussed in Parliament.
• The Loss of Earnings Compensation Scheme (LEC) was originally introduced to compensate for the loss of earnings of those serving in the armed forces. The current amendment to the LEC provides for improvements to benefits for parents and will also be debated in parliament.
• As one of several cost-saving measures included in the federal government’s relief package 27 (RP27), the taxation of capital withdrawals from pension funds and pillar 3a will be subject to new federal tax regulations. This is currently the subject of considerable debate in Parliament, and a referendum is expected.
• The Federal Council has been tasked with drafting legislation to enable partial withdrawals from vested benefits and pillar 3a accounts (Silberschmidt motion).
• Following the end of the consultation process in January 2025, a final version of the bill to amend the Vested Benefits Act in the area of 1e pension solutions (cadre employee benefit schemes) is also still pending.