Practical Information

Finances

Parents legally residing in Switzerland receive an allowance for each child, unless the parents are not working or are self-employed, in which case they receive no child allowance, with a few exceptions.

The cantons are primarily responsible for the payment of family allowances. Consequently there are 26 different legislations that determine the type and amount of the allowance paid out, the beneficiaries of these allowances, as well as the organisation of the family allowance system in the given canton. All cantons without exception pay family allowances to salaried employees. Ten cantons award family allowances to the self-employed, and five cantons provide individuals who are not gainfully employed with such an allowance. Only individuals working in the agricultural sector and federal staff receive family allowances that are administered by the federal authorities. Your employer will belong to a family compensation fund. To claim a family allowance, you must submit an application to your employer, who will forward your claim to the relevant compensation fund.

All cantons have child allowances, most cantons have educational allowances, and ten cantons also provide birth allowances. In most cantons, a child allowance is generally paid up to the age of 16. If the child remains in education, most cantons continue to provide child allowance payments until the child reaches 25. Child allowances for 2008 are between CHF 160 and CHF 260 per month for the first child, and up to CHF 350 as of the third child.

Several cantons have restrictions regarding allowances for children living abroad. In any case, citizens of EU or EFTA member states receive benefits, even if their children are still living in their home country. If the children's country of residence provides for a family allowance based on gainful activity, that country is first responsible for paying the allowance. In the event that child allowances in the country in question are lower than those in Switzerland, Switzerland must pay the difference.

Specific federal regulations apply to applicants for political asylum, stating that benefits for children of applicants for political asylum are only paid if the applicant is granted asylum or is allowed to stay provisionally.

The website of the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) provides information about family and child allowances. For more information on child allowances for your children living abroad, please contact your cantonal authority.

There are tax deductions available for families with children. Check with your financial adviser as to details. Also our section on Tax includes additional information.