Hello all,

I have a question in regards to AHV/AVS, ALV/AC and Pension contributions.

Can somebody please advise upon leaving switzerland permenantly (for Non-Eu), which contributions one can cash out ?

I appreciate your comments/input regarding this matter.

Sam

Hi Sam,

If you're going to leave the EU you can reclaim 2nd and 3rd Pillars, paid into a bank account of your choosing.

Mark

you can ask AHV and BVG back when you are permenantly leaving EU countries or Switzerland, if you are not US/EU/Swiss citizen. Here are sentences from AHV website.

Der Antrag auf Rückvergütung kann bereits vor der beabsichtigten Ausreise oder nach der Ausreise bis zum Erreichen des
Rentenalters oder nach dem Todesfall der versicherten Person eingereicht werden. Der Anspruch auf Rückvergütung verjährt mit
dem Ablauf von fünf Jahren seit dem Versicherungsfall.

translation:
An application for a refund may be submitted before the planned departure or after departure up until the insured person reaches
retirement age or after his death. Entitlement to a refund is limited to five years from the case of insurance, however.

JK

Hello, I am a Non-EU will be leaving Switzerland shortly. Having worked for almost 2 years, I would like to claim the social security contribution.

The agency which deals with my company has asked me to pay 450 CHF to perform as an escrow and get me that money. They have asked me to sign Power of Attorney and SERVICE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT.

Will it be really worth it?

I will be leaving next saturday, is there any cheaper way to do this than going through this agency?

Appreciate if anyone can let me know of the complications if I try doing it by myself :-)

It's very simple to do yourself.

Note: you do not get insurance elements back - only the state pension contributions.

What is the process to do it pls?

Apologies if this was answered earlier

Fill in the form. Get it from the AHV.

Hi JK

And in a case of a EU citizen leaving Switzerland again to a EU country? Does it work the same way?

Many Thanks
a.contardi

Hi,
I am going to leave switzerland to go travelling. As i will not be going to an EU country i would like to withdraw my contributions.
However if after travelling i was to return to the EU or indeed switzerland, there wouldnt be a problem? i wouldnt have to pay back anything?

Can a refund above me made if some leaves Switzerland for UK and is a UK citizen? If not, how does one get this AHV money paid out upon the age of 65? Does one apply in switzerland or in UK via UK social security?

Is there anything to watch out for (e.g. additonal payments or any paperwork necessary) so that one does not loose the AHV contributions that one has made while living and working in switzerland?

Is there any way to one can loose these AHV pension if one is UK citizen and goes back to UK? I just want to see if there is anything that one needs to be watching out for before or after leaving Switzerland.

There may be transition arrangements for newer EU countries, and bilateral considerations for EEA countries.

No payment before 65, the UK is covered by the EU treaty and the Bilateral arrangements.

For the AHV payout one of two things will happen once you retire based in the UK. Either your CH AHV payments will be recognized as equivalent to UK payments by the UK authorities for your 30 year retirement years or if you have 30 years by the time you retire in the UK alone (depending on the retirement age applicable to you in the UK at the time currently up to 67 but may be extended at any time in the meantime) you may get your partial AHV pension from the Swiss direct in CHF at the Swiss retirement age.

If you retire outside the UK it'll be different again depending on the bilateral arrangements in place with that country and the UK.
(Differences between Canada and US for example for Cost of living adjustments etc).

It's quite complex and you may be advised to find a bilateral practitioner.
In essence any country where there's a UK bilateral where you've paid for one year means you get a partial payment or recognition later.

So keep your paperwork (Lohnausweise) and AHV card handy.

Finally if you were out of the UK less than 5 years you may be able to pay up your UK contributions in arrears before April 5th of each year. Check out direct.gov.uk for details.

magyir thanks.

So there is no paperwork to be done before and after leaving Switzend to ensure that the AVH pension is not lost? Just keeping good records (AVH card and statements)?

I will be moving back to the United States soon and I've checked into the forum posts here for recommendations on things to do before going. I am particularly interested in AHV contributions I've made since being here. How does the process for getting a return of the AHV benefits work if moving to the US? When will I need to apply for the return?

Thanks

As you only need 30 years to get a full UK pension (44 in CH) I doub't there is any point in paying for those 5 missing years!

Ask your HR people as they are the best source of info, otherwise this has been covered.