The popular initiative "for a better life in retirement" was accepted on March 3, 2024 by the Swiss people with 58.2% of the votes. The direct consequence: starting in December 2026, all pensioners with an AVS income will receive a thirteenth monthly payment for the first time, equivalent to a full monthly payment. The amount ranges from a minimum of CHF 1,225 to a maximum of CHF 2,520, depending on the years of accumulated contributions. For those who charge the maximum rent, we are talking about an extra CHF 2,520 in a single payment. The mechanism is automatic. You do not have to request anything or submit any paperwork. Anyone who is already retired and receives an AVS income in December 2026 will be entitled to this payment without further management on their part. The federal Parliament chose to concentrate the payment in December, instead of distributing it monthly throughout the year. The amount is proportional to the income that is already charged: if you receive the minimum, you will charge that same amount as a thirteenth; If you receive the maximum, the same. To finance the measure, Parliament approved an increase in AVS salary contributions of 0.5 percentage points in total: 0.25% borne by the worker and 0.25% borne by the employer. This increase is already in effect from January 1, 2026 and appears broken down in the payrolls. If, in addition, income from contributions is not sufficient in the long term, an eventual increase in VAT of 0.7 points is planned, although this part is still under parliamentary discussion. What many Spaniards in Switzerland are not clear about is that this 13th pension will also affect them, as long as they have accumulated sufficient years of AVS contributions. If you have been working here for years, you are building the right to an income that will include this additional monthly payment. And if you are already retired and receive a Swiss pension, you will automatically receive it in December. The periods worked in Spain, thanks to the Free Movement Agreement with the EU, can be used to meet the minimum year of contributions required in Switzerland to access the income, although they do not add to the calculated amount. If you are between 55 and 65 years old, now is the time to request your individual AVS account statement from the Caisse de compensation in your canton. It is free, shows you the years of contributions and declared salaries, and gives you an estimate of your future income, already including the 13th monthly payment in the updated calculations. It is better to know what you have before the time comes, and not after. ---
The 13th AVS pension: what it is, when it arrives and who it affects
Community guide based on recent and verified experiences.