Key Points at a Glance
- Amount 2026 (single person): from CHF 1,260 (minimum) to CHF 2,520 (maximum) per month, for a full contribution career.
- Amount 2026 (married couple): capped at 3,780 CHF per month, or 150 % of the maximum individual pension.
- Reference age: 65 years for men; between 64 and 65 years for women depending on the year of birth, with a gradual increase until 2028.
- 13th pension: paid for the first time in December 2026, in addition to the twelve monthly annuities.
- The request is not automatic: It must be submitted 6 months before the reference age to your compensation fund.
What Is the AVS/OASI Pension Amount in 2026?
Maximum Pension (Single Person)
The maximum OASI pension amounts to 2,520 CHF per month, or 32,760 CHF per year (13th pension included). It is reached with a full contribution period (44 years) and a relevant average annual income of at least CHF 90,720 (see Scale 44).
Minimum Pension (Single Person)
The minimum OASI pension amounts to CHF 1,260 per month, or CHF 16,380 per year (13th pension included). It applies to individuals who have contributed uninterruptedly for the entire required period, with an average annual income less than or equal to CHF 15,120.
Maximum Pension for a Married Couple
The sum of the two individual pensions of a couple is capped at 150 % of the maximum pension, that is 3,780 CHF per month, or 49,140 CHF per year (13th annuity included). Each spouse retains an individual pension, but their total cannot exceed this maximum.
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The 13th AVS/OASI Pension Payment
Since December 2026, retirees receive a 13th pension, paid every year at the end of the year. It is equivalent to 1/12th of the old-age pensions received during the year, which is equivalent to an additional monthly pension.
Who Is Entitled to the AVS/OASI Pension, and at What Age?
The right to the pension begins on the first day of the month following the one in which you reach the reference age. At least one year of insured contributions in Switzerland is required.
- Men: The reference age is set at 65.
- Women: The retirement age is gradually increasing from 64 to 65. It is being raised by three months for each year of birth until 2028, when it will reach 65 for everyone.
- Women born between 1961 and 1969: they receive a supplementary pension, or a more favorable reduction rate if they claim their pension early.
How Is the AVS/OASI Pension Calculated?
The amount is based on three elements: the contribution period, the relevant average annual income, and any potential bonuses.
Contribution Period
To receive a full pension, you need to have contributed without interruption from age 20 up to the reference age. Each missing contribution year reduces the pension by roughly 2.3%. The calculation follows the scale 44 defined by the Confederation.
Average Annual Determining Income
All income subject to AVS contributions during your working life is totaled and adjusted for wage growth. This average income determines your pension amount, which falls between the minimum and maximum amounts. Above the ceiling, higher income no longer increases your pension.
Bonuses
- Child-rearing credits: for each year you raised children under the age of 16. They correspond to three times the minimum annual pension, split equally between married spouses.
- Care credits: for caring for a relative who requires assistance. They must be requested in writing each year and cannot be combined with child-rearing credits.
Income Splitting Between Spouses
For married, widowed, or divorced persons, income earned during the years of marriage is split equally between the spouses. This splitting occurs notably upon divorce or when both spouses reach the reference age.
How Is the AVS/OASI Pension Calculated?
Contributions finance the OASI, the IV, and the EO. The rate depends on your status:
- Employees: 10.6 % of the total gross salary (AVS/AI/APG), split equally between the employer and the employee, or 5.3 % each.
- Self-employed: A progressive tax rate ranging from 5.371 % to 10 % of income, with the maximum rate of 10 % applying to annual incomes of 60,500 CHF or more.
- Economically inactive persons: annual contribution between CHF 530 and CHF 26,500, depending on assets and pensions.
- Contribution gaps permanently reduce the pension: it is therefore useful to check one's career history, especially in the event of years spent abroad or career interruptions.
Bringing Forward or Deferring Your Pension
The OASI offers a certain amount of flexibility regarding the time of departure.
- Bringing Forward: You can draw your pension 1 or 2 years before the reference age, starting the month after your 63rd birthday. The pension is then reduced for life.
- Deferral: You can postpone your annuity from 1 to 5 years. It is then increased for life.
- Partial payout: Both early withdrawal and deferral can apply to a portion of the pension (between 20 % and 80 %), allowing for a gradual transition to retirement.
How Do You Apply for the AVS/OASI Pension?
The annuity is not paid automatically. You must submit your application 3 to 4 months before the reference age through your compensation fund. If you have not submitted an application by the reference age, payment may be delayed.
A free projection of your future pension is available every five years starting at age 40. You can also check your individual account statement to spot any potential contribution gaps.
The OASI pension is not enough to fund your retirement
Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV/AVS) covers the basic subsistence level. On its own, it falls very short of maintaining your standard of living once you retire. It forms the foundation, which is supplemented by the 2nd pillar (pension fund) and 3rd pillar (private pension).
To find out what you will actually receive and identify your gaps, a global overview of the three pillars is indispensable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum amount of the AVS pension in 2026?
The maximum OASI pension is CHF 2,520 per month (CHF 30,240 per year) for a single person with a full contribution period. For a married couple, the total of the two pensions is capped at CHF 3,780 per month.
What is the minimum AVS pension?
The minimum pension is 1,260 CHF per month (15,120 CHF per year) for a person who has contributed without interruption for the entire required duration, with an average annual income equal to or less than 15,120 CHF.
When is the 13th AVS payment made?
It is paid every year in December, for the first time in December 2026. It corresponds to the equivalent of an additional monthly annuity.