Finances
Nothing is paid automatically. Almost everything has to be claimed.
After a death, several benefits may be due to survivors. What most have in common: they do not start by themselves.
Filing late sometimes costs several months of pension. Here is what exists and where to claim it.
The state scheme pays a widow's or widower's pension and an orphan's pension. The conditions differ markedly according to civil status and whether there are children.
The claim goes to the competent compensation office — the last employer's or the canton's. It is never opened automatically.
The second pillar generally provides a spouse's pension and an orphan's pension, sometimes a death benefit lump sum. Regulations vary between institutions.
Notify the deceased person's pension fund without delay. Some regulations set a deadline for claiming a lump sum.
Many pension funds provide a benefit for a life partner, on condition that the partner was registered with the fund during the member's lifetime. Without that prior notification the entitlement is often lost. It is one of the costliest oversights we come across.
Where the death resulted from an accident, the compulsory accident insurance pays survivors' pensions and covers transport costs, including from abroad.
These come in addition to the state scheme and the pension fund; they do not replace them.
Questions & answers
As soon as possible. State pensions are paid from the date of filing, not from the date of death; waiting therefore costs money directly.
From the state scheme, generally no. From the pension fund, often yes — but only if the partner was registered during the member's lifetime.
The compensation offices advise free of charge. We provide the list of addresses and required documents so nothing is missing from the first submission.
Pensions are; a lump-sum death benefit follows special rules that vary by canton. For a substantial amount, tax advice is worth its cost.