My Swiss husband is extremely concerned about the possibility of leaving CH because he will end up with gaps in his AHV. He paid in when we lived in the States for a while, but now we are looking at a 'border move' to France.

It seems that he will be contributing to the French system even if his job is in Switzerland. This would mean he'd have gaps in CH and FR, which would be bad news, of course.

Does anybody else have this situation of social security contributions in multiple countries or a solution for it?

Apologies for all these one foot in CH, one foot elsewhere posts lately. The answers are always loaded with exceptions so the EF opinions have helped us the most.

If moving to an EU country there are indeed reciprocities. Look at the EU accords, movement of persons, I believe it is covered there.

I finally found the answer. Posting it here in case anyone else wants to know too


To which social security system must individuals contribute if they are gainfully employed in several countries?
Exception
To the social security system where they live, where their employer’s headquarters are located or where they pursue their main activity.
As a general rule, Swiss, Icelandic, Liechten- stein and Norwegian nationals and citizens of EU mem- ber states who work in several countries are subject to social security system of only one country, namely the social security system of their country of residence. Where individuals work for only one employer but are resident outside the countries in which they work, they are subject to the social security system of the country where their employer’s headquarters are located. Individuals who are self-employed in several countries but live in another country are subject to the social security system in the country where they pursue their main activity.
As a general rule, anyone who is self-employed in one country but is em- ployed in another must contribute to the systems of both countries. For example, this applies to individuals who are self-employed in Switzerland but are also employed in an EU or EFTA member state.

Thank you Where2.

That is the minimum. Your husband can of course continue to pay into the Swiss system on a voluntary basis, ensuring a decent pension. He can visit the social services where he lives in Switzerland, they will have the application forms.

The maximum AHV single pension in Switzerland is only about CHF 2'300 per month, but there is a supplement, which is means tested, (Zusatzversicherung) that brings AHV income up to about 3'600 per month and reduces health costs. Swiss citizens and 'C Permit' residents receive free accommodation in retirement homes if necessary. As these are such good basic offers, I would recommend paying into AHV voluntarily, and pay into the French system as required.

Hi Sbrinz,
do you mean one can pay an additonal ahv fee to bring it up? I have never heard of this. I thought it was job based and if you don't work enough or are a mostly stay at home mom, you end up getting a very low payment.

You and your husband can make voluntary payments to the AHV (AVS) and cover the years you did not work full time.
Payments only allowed up to 5 years in arrears.

http://www.ahv-iv.info/andere/00134/00139/index.html

2.03 - Beiträge der Nichterwerbstätigen an die AHV, die IV und die EO

Die AHV unterscheidet zwischen Erwerbstätigen und Nichterwerbstätigen.
Als Nichterwerbstätige gelten Personen, die kein oder nur
ein geringes Erwerbseinkommen erzielen, namentlich:
 vorzeitig Pensionierte,
 Teilzeitbeschäftigte,
 Bezügerinnen und Bezüger von IV-Renten,
 Empfänger und Empfängerinnen von Krankentaggeldern,
 Studierende (siehe Merkblatt 2.10),
 Weltreisende,
 ausgesteuerte Arbeitslose,

 Geschiedene,
 Verwitwete,
 Ehefrauen und Ehemänner von Pensionierten, die nicht im AHV-Rentenalter sind,
 Ehefrauen und Ehemänner von im Ausland erwerbstätigen Ehepartnern,
 Versicherte, die zwar erwerbstätig sind, deren jährliche Beiträge aus der
Erwerbstätigkeit inklusive Arbeitgeberbeiträge jedoch weniger als 475 Franken
(entspricht einem Bruttojahreseinkommen von 4 612 Franken) betragen,
 Versicherte, die nicht dauernd voll erwerbstätig sind und deren Beiträge
aus der Erwerbstätigkeit inklusive Arbeitgeberbeiträge weniger als die
Hälfte der Beiträge ausmachen, die sie als Nichterwerbstätige entrichten
müssten. Als nicht dauernd voll erwerbstätig gilt, wer weniger als 9 Monate
im Jahr oder weniger als 50 % der üblichen Arbeitszeit erwerbstätig ist.
Nichterwerbstätige sind beitragspflichtig

Nichterwerbstätige müssen ab 1. Januar nach Vollendung
des 20. Altersjahrs Beiträge an die AHV, IV und EO entrichten. Die Beitragspflicht
endet, wenn das ordentliche Rentenalter erreicht ist. Für Männer liegt das ordentliche
Rentenalter bei 65 Jahren und für Frauen bei 64 Jahren.
-

http://www.ktipp.ch/themen/beitrag/1...HV-Kontoauszug
.

The OP's husband is working in Switzerland, so the above doesn't apply. Where2, that's something that only the AHV can give you an answer to. You and your husband need to speak to them.

They are moving to France

We've called the AHV office and confirmed that our AHV will stay in Switzerland. I'm also very happy to know that the payments are not that high if I decide to cut my work hours to do some studies.
Once again EF was the place that headed me in the right direction. Amazing, I've lived here for years and there is always something I didn't know that don't know.
Thanks guys!

...while the husband will still work in Switzerland. It's called "commuting".