When being made unemployed through redundancy and receiving a severance package does the receipt of this severence pay effect your entitlement to receive RAV benefits?

My boyfriend is in this position after working for almost 15 years for the same company and has heard unofficial rumours that this is the case. He is checking with his HR, but I am hopeful that somebody out there can help with some words of wisdom!

I am pretty sure that is the case in Switzerland. There is no such thing as a "severance package" the money he will receive will be considered as extra payed months (without him needing to do the work). So he will not be allowed to register at the RAV until that money has been used up.

I think that is the case but to be 100% sure he could enquire directly at the RAV.

But this assumes that entitlement to RAV is means tested, and not based solely on being unemployed (after 2yrs employment bla bla). The end of his employment will be 31st March, not an extended date based on the additional salary. Obviously we are checking with the RAV but I do know other people who have received a "severence package" albeit of a lesser value but weren't effected and registered and claimed the RAV benefit without issue. Thanks for the info tho!

When I wrote "until that money has been used up" I didn't mean until he had spent it all but until the number of months (in terms of salary) had passed.

But on second thoughts I think what I wrote is wrong. In my first job I received a 3 month "severance package" but although I only went to the RAV after the 3 months were up I think I remember someone in the company saying I could go to the RAV immediately.

Sorry about that. If you do inquire could you give us a feedback.

Thanks for your reply. I think we now have an answer.

It seems that there is a threshold of 106,000chf. Amounts received below this amount do not effect your entitlement to payment from the RAV. If you receive a greater amount than this, then the difference is considered as if it were part of the RAV payment. So, assuming you received 136,000chf, the balance is 30,000chf. You are entitled to a maximum payment per month of 10,000chf from the RAV, so this 30,000chf is considered to be equal to 3 months of RAV benefit, so you will not receive payment from them for these first 3 months. You still have to register with them, and can benefit from trainings etc during this period. Following these 3 months, payment will then be received from the RAV as normal.

This was advised by the Company HR so should be reliable.

I am really hoping that someone can help me here.

I was made redundant in April 2009. I registered with the RAV in May, but was not eligible for payment until July because of my notice period.

Previously I was under the impression that they included either the last year or the last 6 months whichever was greater.

I received a bonus in May 2008: they have not included this in my calculations. Nor have they included the redundancy package that I received in July (even though all the taxes were paid on this).

I feel that this is incorrect, and other colleagues made redundant have had this included.

I have gone back to the ALK (arbeitslosskasse) and he has said that this is not to be included.

What should I do?

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I resemble that remark.

There is no such thing as a severence package.... you might get bonus paid or gratification, been offered an outplacement course, but all in all, what the RAV checks is your regular income. When applying for the RAV and sending the papers to the Kasse that will pay your benefits, you will be asked to send in a summary of the earnings of last year. They will exclude any bonus or "extra money (either gratification or compensation) and calculate your allowance from there (eg if you husband made 80 in regular salary and 120 in bonus and compensations, they will take the 80 as income). In order to be eligible to receive this money you will have to show that you have been looking for a job (keep all letters you have sent, and registers of any effort you might have done in this sense). Legally, you will have 7 days to present yourself at the RAV office, but I would strongly recommend you to go there are soon as the termination of the contract is made effective. This way you can make sure you are doing all the "efforts" they consider sufficient. In dubious cases, there is a "centralized" authority that decides how to proceed.

Hope this have helped and best of luck,

Lucy

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Hey Lucy,

Here within lies the issue.

I was informed at the information day that all bonuses as included as part of your income, bacause, well, bonus is part of your income.

And they have included a smaller bonus that I received too....

My bonus and gratifications, as well as paid vacations were not included. It could well be that you have hit the top of 108k per annum... I know it is not fair at all, but if the ALK has ruled it out you have very little chances of seeing this money back. Unless you talk to you colleagues, see exactly why was this money included and get copies of the resolutions and go back to the ALK for further justification. If my understanding is correct, they just take an average for the last 12 months for their calculations.

I was told exactly the opposite..... bonus are not regular income and cannot be accountable.

I have spoken to colleagues, and theirs was included.

Is ALK like the RAv and somewhat dependant on your case worker?

Actually, ALK and RAV are different institutions. They seemed to have centralized now everything in an office in Bern (that is why you now get the different forms to send out).

I am aware of that.

What I was saying is that I know the RAV and your requirements are dependent on your case worker, and it appears that there is the same subjectivity with the ALK.

There are several ALK in Zurich. You are free to pick anyone you like.

You cannot pick your RAV. You must go to the one responsible for your place of residence.

There are several ALK but they all operate within the same law and rules - Maybe some are more professional or experienced than others, I don't know. It is my impression that ALK is a different beast than RAV and operates based on more exact rules.

From an article from NZZ:

As I understand it, the May'08 bonus must be added to your insured salary. Regarding the redundancy package, I'm not sure. Maybe get the facts from elsewhere than the unemployment insurance! Good luck.