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The SVP party leadership probably won’t like this at all: 57 percent of SVP supporters want to vote yes on the 13th AHV pension initiative, as the latest SRG trend poll shows.
The party leadership rejects this initiative. And it targets retirees who are moving abroad. More than 126,000 Swiss citizens and approximately 660,000 foreigners who previously worked in Switzerland now receive their Swiss pension abroad.
These people are portrayed as profiteers who receive more money and still benefit from the strong franc, but “they cannot afford the additional costs brought on by either higher VAT or higher wage cuts,” SVP National Assembly Member Martina Bircher (39, AG) said in a news release. ” he is writing. And: “All these foreigners and Swiss living abroad will primarily benefit from the 13th AHV pension.” Bircher complains that this is “a job that falls on the shoulders of people working in Switzerland and in Swiss industry.” And she talks about “luxury retirement abroad”.
Not the same number of services
Switzerland abroad strongly opposes this. “AHV retirees abroad are an ideal example for the Swiss economy,” Klaus Oegerli (66), who lives in Hua Hin, Thailand, tells Blick. It notes that all AHV recipients abroad (Swiss abroad as well as foreigners who work in Switzerland and pay AHV contributions and return to their home country to retire) are subject to various disadvantages. “We are not entitled to additional benefits, social benefits or benefits from the AHV, such as helplessness compensation or participation in benefits.”
Equally important: they do not impose any costs on the Swiss healthcare system. “We may pay smaller health insurance premiums abroad, but we generally have a less good healthcare system and this can be even more expensive than Switzerland for major procedures.”
Oegerli will express his opinion by voting. And he asks why the SVP is attacking Switzerland abroad, while their grandfather, billionaire Christoph Blocher (83), is claiming retirement without any need.
Switzerland abroad contributed to added value
Joe Bühler (75), who lives in Shelton (USA), not far from New York, also finds the allegations unfair: “Everyone has been donating for years, even decades, and is legally entitled to receive AHV payments.” They are also subject to exchange rate fluctuations, which can also be negative. “This does not make the Swiss abroad profiteers or victims, this is just the fact,” Bühler said.
Switzerland abroad also contributed to Swiss added value. Bühler cites his nearly 25 years of work in Swiss Tourism. “I made a real contribution to the Swiss export economy, even if it cannot be measured directly.”
Banks provide services to Switzerland abroad
Marcel Frey (63) has been in early retirement since May 2023 and currently lives in Athens, Greece. He points out the many problems faced by immigrants: “Swiss health insurance companies do not reimburse for treatments abroad until the admission process is completed – in Greece this takes about a year!” He has to pay all medical bills upfront, and his health insurance company will “see if there’s a refund later.”
There is also a problem with transfers abroad. “My bank, Avera, does not want any customers based abroad, so I had to close my account,” says Frey. He is currently transferring his pension to a euro account at the online bank Wise.
In accordance with the provisions of social security agreements, retirement payments abroad are generally made in the currency of the country of residence. The compensation fund makes payments through Postfinance. According to Frey, Wise offered him an exchange rate of 1.054 euros for 1 franc, while Postfinance was expecting 1.036 euros. His verdict: “Some people are trying to massacre the Swiss abroad”.
These include a few banks that still offer accounts to Swiss citizens abroad. For example, according to Frey, ZKB charges 450 francs annually in account management costs. The Cantonal Bank of Geneva offered the cheapest alternative at “only” 120 francs per year.
Start elsewhere?
“He is pleased that you can still live on an AHV pension in Greece,” said social security expert Frey. He receives a modest pension due to his stay abroad, being self-employed and working part-time as a househusband.
But he still wonders whether the 13th AHV pension is the right approach. “Actually, discrimination against married couples needs to be eliminated, as as a married couple you only get 150 percent of the split private pension,” says Frey. AHV contributions are too low for this.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
