LPP 2026: disability and survival pensions, finally adjusted to prices

There is a change that came into effect on January 1, 2026 and that has gone largely unnoticed in groups of Spaniards in Switzerland, but that affects a very specific part of the community: people who receive a disability pension from the second pillar (LPP) or a survivor's pension as a widow, widower or orphan, also derived from the mandatory LPP. For the first time since this insurance existed, these pensions have been adjusted to the evolution of the cost of living. Until now, Swiss law did not oblige professional pension institutions to adapt current income to inflation. The result, over the years, was a progressive loss of purchasing power for those who depended on these benefits. The second pillar reform approved within the framework of the AVS 21 reform introduced the obligation for the Federal Council to periodically review whether these amounts should be updated, and to do so effectively when circumstances justify it. The first official review has resulted in an adjustment applied from January 1, 2026. The adjustment applies exclusively to the disability (IV) and survivor pensions of the mandatory LPP that were already in progress before 2026. It is not a general increase in the amount of future pensions, nor a modification of the calculation of the second pillar for assets. It only affects those who already receive these benefits. If you are a disability pensioner or receive a survivor's pension after losing your spouse who worked in Switzerland, check your latest account statement from the relevant pension institution to confirm that the adjustment has been applied correctly. This exchange rate does not appear in any official letter with a catchy title. This is reported, in the best of cases, by the pension institution of your former employer with an annual statement. If you have doubts about whether the adjustment applies to you or has not been applied, you can contact your LPP institution directly or the Second Pillar Information Center (info@bzl.ch), which offers free guidance in several languages. ---