I have a question about getting pension back for a UK citizen who is moving to a non-EU country (New Zealand) directly from Switzerland. Is it likely that we will get it back?

For other questions on the subject, here's another link. Open the PDF on the right
Overview of Social Security in Switzerland.

(probably in here already somewhere but I didn't see it)

This posting is excellent well done!
I have a question concerning using your "LPP" and buying property:

I already used my LPP to purchase a flat. Now I wanted to sell and move or wait to move. I was told by my notary that I should check as the LPP is "reimbursed to them". I am worried as I thought the monies from the sale apart from the notary fees etc etc. would then be yours?.

Is it true you cant cash in on your LPP after the sale of the apartment and they take it back....

Thanks

I'm not familiar with the term LPP, but if you mean you cashed in your pillar 2 pension to pay some of the capital of the property, then I believe this is supposed to be paid back into the pension in the event you sell your property. I was not aware that this was enforced via the notary, but maybe it is.

Thanks yep I, it is LPP or vested benefits or 2eme pillar. I thought once you had it it was yours.... mmmm.

I was considering selling and then buying maybe a few years down the road... and using the cash now to rent for a while or just to use. I suppose that isnt an option to have the money back in your account and using it .. I suppose the notary has to notify them. In the sale document the notary had to agree to release the LPP but you are right why should the notary be the one to inform them to pay it back... I guess it is automatic.

Thanks!

Great info about 2nd & 3rd pillar withdrawals, but what happens to all the money contributed to the 1st pillar upon retirement or when one leaves the country (for a EU or non-EU country?)

Curious.

I believe that for EU citizens it remains in switzerland and you eventually receive a state pension from switzerland - it cannot be transferred out. For non-EU I believe there are ways to apply to have it refunded, at least in some cases if not all.

Thanks!

Anyone in the process of applying and can share on this? Would be good to know about this.

Thanks to everyone who contributed since this original post and taught me something too...

This links are interesting and pickup on some of the discussion.

i) It seems it is only the COMPULSORY part of the second pillar savings that cannot be withdrawn in cash. Most employers pay benefits considerably more than the legal minimum particularly if you earn more or have a management plan.

See http://www.verbindungsstelle.ch/xml_...on/d51/f61.cfm

When I wrote original the post, it seemed to be common understanding that release was not possible outside of Switzerland or frontier regions, even though the relevant law http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/8/831.411.de.pdf doesnt say that. But it does indeed seem this is now possible regardless of where your principal residence is; however it must be for your principal residence. For german speakers google "wohneigentum-foerderung ins ausland .ch" for a number of links on the topic.

Daniel

I'd heard from someone that for a married couple reaching the pensionable age - one of the 1st pillar pensions (usually the wife's) is lost.

Is this true?

And sorry to keep with the negative theme but if something were to happen to you, your 2nd pillar will be lost. You can't will it to anyone else except your spouse.

Just what I heard informally. My german isn't good enough for me to check this up and a lot of people don't seem to know the details.

Thanks,
Nanda.

Hello!

First of all, I've to say "thank you" for this post and and also all the other ones explaining how the pension system works, I've spent the last 3 days reading this, why? Because, for some personal issues, I've decided to leave CH in 3/4 months.

I arrived here on april/2010, but till 09/2010 I worked as a contractor (paid per day by the company as an external consultant), and since 10/2010 I got a full time position as a normal employee. Since this date the company also is paying the pension scheme (If I didn't misunderstood, 2nd pillar, right?)

So my questions are:

- I'm working here as a EU resident, but actually I'm from southamerica. So, can I still withdraw my pillar 1 and pillar 2 even if for the authorities I am from EU?

- From the second pillar, I think I can only withdraw 50% of what I have in my entitlement of vested benefits, the rest remains with the employer?

- As far as I understood, this process has to be handled via HR? How long could it take? Or shall I contact HR for the pillar 2 and the gemeinde for the pillar 1?

Thanks a lot for your help
M

As I understand, but without fact checking:

- You have been here more than a year so you are outside the short contribution period of less than one year

- It's not your nationality, residence or domicile that counts but where you are moving to that determines if you can withdraw

- You cant get the first pillar back, but you may be entitled to some small pension from CH when you retire

- The second pillar has two components a minimum state amount that you can only get back if you move outside EU/EFTA and, probably, a supplementary amount you can get back in any event

- Your HR department is a good first step but unless they are used to this, good luck. Gemeinde is I suspect the wrong place for sure.

Hello, quick question since I am moving out soon to EU country. I work for UBS so they will move my pension accruals to their foundation in Basel, probably easier for me just to let them do this, I don't intend to withdraw anything anytime soon.

Pls confirm (anybody) that when I do retire (if) I will still be able to more from UBS foundation into another foundation (in SZ or wherever is cheaper in 20 years' time) prior to transferring to my retirement country ? I probably can ask them but if anybody has the answer, thanks in advance

Just found this document on the website http://www.bsv.admin.ch/themen/ueber...x.html?lang=en

Seems to explain everything....

72253_BBL_Brosch_e.pdf

I am having problems getting my LPP funds from Zurich Kantonal Bank. I officially left Switzerland but was waiting for this money to go back to Canada. The Berater at the ZKB tols me to use my Swiss phone number and address in my form and now zhe ZKB refuses to give me my money until I have proof of Canadian residency but I cannot get there without the money. Help please!

Are you in Canada or not? I'm not surprised they are a bit cautious (although it doesnt like they are descriminating against you).

Daniel

You may well be able to claim a partial Swiss state pension. My father lived in Switzerland for about 5 years in the late 80's and now has a Swiss pension, ditto one from Germany, France, the UK and US where he worked too.

No, but would like to go but don't have the funds. Last time I did this, it was through the LPP itself and it was easy. That was three years ago. This time, the ZKB is making it very difficult although I pffered to give them a Canadian telephone number and address but their employee said that wasn't necessary

As one gets older this topic becomes more important!!
I have a typical 2nd pillar occupational scheme. Each month I pay about 12.5% of my gross salary together with an equal amount from the company into a typical pension/insurance arrangement with one of the big providers.
I have been looking at the costs charged to me ie money deducted from above before it gets into the pot. In total this runs into 5 figures!!!
After more investigation it is clear that about half of this amount is insurance premiums (death/disability etc). The remainder must go in costs and I have asked the provider to clarify and explain.
The point is it amounts to about 20% of that which goes into the pension pot. This seems very high to me.
So I wondered how this 20% compares to you folks in the same situation??

The quoted Credit Suisse link in the OP no longer worked for me, but I found this link which has some useful information:

https://www.credit-suisse.com/ch/pri...eule/index.jsp