Those living and working outside of the EU and EFTA, who wish to continue paying OASI contributions, may, under certain conditions, join the voluntary OASI/DI. This can avoid substantial pension reductions.
The best way to explain this is with examples. Let’s take a look at the case of Mr A first: he is being seconded by his employer, whose headquarters are in Rapperswil, to a subsidiary in China for three years. According to the social security insurance agreement between Switzerland and China, his employer will continue to make social security payments during this time. This means that Mr A will still have health insurance in Switzerland and remain a part of the statutory occupational pension scheme (second pillar). Mr A will also continue to draw family allowances from Switzerland. On arrival in China Mr A must submit the secondment certificate from his OASI compensation office. By doing so, he is providing proof that he is under no obligation to insure himself in China.
However, what happens in the case of Mrs B, the wife of Mr A? She will care for their two primary-school-age children while the family is living in China. This means she can apply for seamless continuation of her OASI/DI/APG insurance as well. To do so, she must apply to join the OASI compensation office of A no later than six months after moving abroad.
However, Mrs B cannot continue her compulsory insurance while she is in China if she accepts a job with an employer whose registered office is in China. In this case, the same rule applies for her and all other employed people who – unlike Mr A – are not seconded. They can join the voluntary OASI/DI. If they do so, they can draw a pension when they reach retirement age, just like people who are insured in Switzerland. With her contributions to the voluntary OASI/DI, the now employed Mrs B can thus close the contribution gaps and avoid significant reductions in her OASI pension. Deadlines apply in this case. Mrs B is obliged to submit a membership application within one year of leaving the compulsory OASI/DI/APG insurance scheme.
Contributions to the voluntary OASI/DI scheme are determined based on the annual income earned and/or income from self-employment. From 1 January 2020, the annual contribution to the voluntary insurance scheme is 10.1 percent of the annual salary. For unemployed people, the amount depends on their assets and any pension income. The minimum annual contribution is 950 Swiss francs.
The Swiss Compensation Office (SCO), which pays OASI pensions to insured persons resident abroad is also responsible for the use of the voluntary OASI/DI scheme. Further information on voluntary OASI/DI insurance and on membership conditions is available at www.zas.admin.ch (cf. under “Private voluntary OASI/DI insurance”).
For further information: sedmaster@zas.admin.ch, or telephone +41 58 461 91 11.
Comments
Comments :
Vielen Dank für Ihre Rückmeldungen. Unser Artikel beleuchtet die Frage der AHV im Ausland an Hand eines spezifischen Fallbeispiels, bei dem die Bedingungen für den Beitritt zur freiwilligen AHV/IV erfüllt sind. Dieses wurde aus einer Fülle von individuellen Situationen ausgewählt und beschrieben. In Ländern, mit denen die Schweiz ein Sozialversicherungsabkommen hat (darunter alle EU-/EFTA-Staaten) gelten besondere Bedingungen. Wir bedauern, dass der Artikel diesbezüglich nicht vollständig schien. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter https://www.zas.admin.ch/zas/de/home/particuliers/cotiser-a-l-avs-ai-facultative.html
Also nicht jeder der im Ausland wohnt und arbeitet, kann der freiwilligen AHV beitreten.