Old-age pensions

The first pillar of the pension scheme – Federal Retirement and Survivors’ Insurance – is compulsory for all employees regardless of their citizenship. It is intended to cover basic needs in old age. As soon as they reach retirement age, insured persons are paid an old-age pension. If an insured person dies, any dependent family members will receive a survivor’s pension.

Half of the AHV contributions are deducted directly from your salary, with ETH Zurich making up the other half as the employer and paying both parts to the external page Federal Compensation Office.

Social security number

You will be given an individual Swiss social security number for the insurance provided under the first pillar. If you do not yet have a Swiss insurance card, Human Resources will obtain this on your behalf and send it to you.
Please note: The Swiss social security number is a separate number and is not the same as your European social security number.

The second pillar – occupational pensions – is intended to enable people, in an appropriate manner, to maintain their accustomed standard of living in old age. This is compulsory for employees whose salaries are at or above a specific minimum level and is guaranteed by the occupational pension fund. Employers are obliged to pay at least 50% of the required contributions.

ETH Zurich employees are insured by external page PUBLICA (the Swiss Federal Pension Fund) with a defined contribution plan. Under the contribution plan, benefits are based on the amounts credited through contributions plus any deposits in the account (including interest). At ETH Zurich, the employee pays 36% of the monthly contributions, with the remaining 64% paid by the employer. Employees also have the option to pay voluntary contributions which entitle them to greater pension and withdrawal benefits.

The third pillar – private savings plans – is optional and is based on private savings.