This page provides information on the conditions of eligibility for an OASI pension and on the possibility of bringing forward or deferring payment of an old-age pension.
In Switzerland the term "reference age" corresponds to "retirement age".
The reference age for men is 65 years.
Following the AVS21 reform accepted by the Swiss people, the reference age for women will gradually increase from 64 to 65, as follows:
Women’s year of birth |
Reference age (retirement age) |
|---|---|
Up to 1960 |
64 years |
1961 |
64 years + 3 months |
1962 |
64 years + 6 months |
1963 |
64 years + 9 months |
From 1964 |
65 years |
You are eligible for an old-age pension if:
Your entitlement to an old-age pension starts the month after you reach the reference age and ends in the month of your death.
You can take your old-age pension 1 to 24 months early, starting in the month following your 63rd birthday at the earliest. However, women born between 1961 and 1969 can continue to draw their pension early from the month following their 62nd birthday.
For men and women born until 1960, the reduction rate applied is 6.8% per year of early retirement.
Women born between 1961 and 1969 who take their OASI pension early benefit from more favourable reduction rates applicable from 1st January 2025.
The transition from working life to retirement is possible in a progressive manner. From 1st January 2024, you can ask to receive between 20 and 80% of your benefit and take early retirement to the month.
If you opt for early retirement, your benefits will be reduced for the full duration of your retirement.
No child pension is paid during the period of early retirement.
You must submit your application no later than the end of the month in which you reach the age of eligibility for early retirement.
You may defer payment of your pension for 1 to 5 years maximum. You will then receive an increased monthly pension for the duration of retirement.
If you wish to defer your old-age pension, you should submit your application within 1 year of the reference age.
When you defer payment of your old-age pension, you also defer payment of any children’s pensions.
It is not necessary to set the duration of the deferment in advance.
You can defer your entire pension or a share of it. The partial deferment may be expressed as a percentage (minimum 20% and maximum 80% of the entire pension) or in francs.
Revocation of deferment
In order to receive the deferred pension, you must revoke the deferment.
To do so, please complete and send us the form:
This form also allows you to change the deferred portion of your pension (for example, going from a deferral of 80% to a deferral of 50% of the pension). Such a change can only be requested once provided there has not already been a change in the deferred portion.
The revocation (in whole or in part) can take place at the earliest 12 months after the reference age and at the latest when you reach the age of 70.
Persons who are gainfully employed in Switzerland and are of retirement age are still required to pay contributions either on their entire salary or with a deductible of 1’400.- Swiss francs per month.
In return, they may, under certain conditions, benefit from the following advantages:
If you continue to pay contributions after the reference age, you may request a recalculation of your pension, but only on request and only once. Insured persons who were already receiving an OASI benefit on 1st January 2024 and who had not yet reached the age of 70 on that same date, may also request a recalculation of their OASI benefit.
To do so, please complete and send us the form:
Entitlement begins at the earliest in the month following the month in which the recalculation is requested.
Requesting a recalculation does not automatically imply a revocation of the deferment.
Last modification 24.04.2024
