hi all,

For an EU national paying AHV in CH...what are the rules and processes concerning what happens to these funds when I leave the country?

Rgds

ali

hey,
search about this topic .. I believe there are a lot of threads regarding this topic in this wonderful forum !

reciprocal agreement being two words that spring to mind.
3rd pillar depends upon where you're going next IIRC.

Note you are talking here purely about AHV and not BVG etc. You simply freeze the amount in Switzerland or even carry on making voluntary contributions and you get a pension in Switzerland when you turn 65. Alternatively you can transfer it into your national State Pension Scheme and very probably lose it...

My current understanding is that the pension can be paid out as a lump sum if you're:
- buying a home from Switzerland
- getting self-employed
- moving to a country that doesn't have a bilateral pension agreement with Switzerland

Now I might be completely wrong on this, please correct me if things aren't quite this simple. These three exceptions apply to EU-citizens AFAIK.

I'd be very interested in "cashing out" when I leave Switzerland, as I believe I'll be able to invest them more wisely myself. Also there's a good chance I bite the dust before my 6x:th summer. Does anyone have a good scheme for this already? Do I have to buy & immediately sell a house in Switzerland, become a carpenter for a week or temporarily relocate to Uganda in order to get my money back?

sanglier:
not AHV. You're thinking of 3rd pillar....

Actually I was referring to BVG, if it's the occupational pension fund:
(found this from http://www.binational.ch/en/fragen/sozial.html )

Occupational pension fund
From the age of 18 and a gross income of currently CHF 25,320.00, all employees have to pay obligatory contributions to the pension fund. Employers have to pay at least half of these contributions. When an employee changes jobs, the saved money is transferred to the pension insurance of the new employer. Insurance contribution gaps arise if a person in part-time gainful employment does not earn the minimum required annual wages or if a person was older when s/he started work and has not worked for the complete insurance period. The paid-in amounts are reserved for old-age pensions.
Exceptions: The accumulated contributions from employers and employees (capital payment) will only be paid out in the case of definitive emigration to a non-EU/EFTA country, becoming self-employed or purchasing a home.

BVG, is the second pillar. The permitted uses of this and the third pillar for eg house finance are the same.

Most expats can make significant top ups to the second pillar and get deduction at full tax rate. Worth looking into (although I think the rules are changing for more recent arrivals).

Also, if using to finance a house, discuss with bank option to use as security rather than actually drawing the capital. It is more tax efficient.

Daniel

Dear everyone,
This is my first ever posting.
I live in Karlsruhe GermanY however I did live and work in CH for about 10 years. My son and his wife live in Luzern.
I am now 2 years off British retiring age. it came as a bit of a suprise creeps up on you..
I now find I should start finding out how to claim pension funds paid in.
I have long lost mY AHV number.
The system changed when I left that is that the AHV would be paid at pensionable age and some arr. with the UK. 1 How do I find out the number
2 How do I go about finding out my rights ?(do I have any).
Anypointers in the right direction would be helpful. Even your experiences would be a good read

Try the Office of the 2nd Pillar , who are not secret sect, but a liaison organisation for pension contributions...

dave

Okay i've looked through several threads and the usual Swiss sites about this but I'm unable to find a clear answer.

As a UK citizen and working in Switzerland for 10 months, is it possible to reclaim all or a portion of the AHV? How does this work as a scheme?

I know you pay in so much and the employer pays in their contribution aswell.

Someone mentioned something about it replacing missing NI contributions in the UK, does anyone have any comment on this?

I know in the past it was possible, and I'm pretty sure it is for Non-EU nationals.

I already have x3 pension schemes and I'm pretty much getting confused overloaded with p/w.

Might be nice to try and sort out the UK ones when I get back

Hello
If this is of any help ...
http://www.sbf.admin.ch/eracareers/d...f_englisch.pdf

Ofcourse, our resident experts are going to give you much comprehensive answers soon! Enjoy in EF.

Cheers mate ..

(Edit: sorry, did not see the "Forum Veteran" under your name ... my bad .. )

Thanks for the info I was searching high/low for this yesterday

Bugger seems I can't reclaim it.

Forum Vet means I talk a lot crap haha, nothing more

Just looked at this.. Seems it's the wrong form (same one I found yesterday)

I need the one aimed at EU states@!!

www.ahv.ch/Commun/Leaving_Switzerland.pdf
Found it..

Seems it's a minefield, I can't reclaim it. +1 yr it pays out, less than one year I lose the cash, well that's the way it seems to be!!

Still as confused as ever!

Well that explains why they are so bloody rich ....
No matter who is at war, they own both the sides money ... Army does not make anything other than knives .. poor people like us lose the money we are to get in case if we become poor ... all the same mate ... all the same ...

talk to company HR, that is what they are there for, unless that is not currently an option you wish to pursue ?

I'm a heathen (contractor) working through my agency, i suppose I should approach them, but I wanted to go in knowing the facts

The saying "about as useful as a chocolate fireguard" comes to mind

A friend said if one leaves Switzerland withdrawing the AHV money, he/she is not entitled to go back to Switzerland for work within the next 20 years?

Is there anybody who can confirm it or correct this issue for me? Appreciate it in advance!!

Never knew that one could withdraw the AHV contributions! I though you get a pension when you are 65.