Christmas bonus from Liechtenstein: these Swiss people will already receive their 13th AHV pension!

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The big AHV showdown will take place on March 3, 2024. Then voters will decide not only on the young liberal pension initiative, which calls for a higher retirement age, but also on the introduction of a 13th AHV pension. The trade unions’ popular initiative actually calls for a thirteenth month’s wage for seniors.

Even if the voters don’t decide until next year. Some Swiss are already receiving their 13th AHV pension. For example, those who have worked in Liechtenstein long enough and are entitled to a corresponding pension.

“The majority of those receiving a Liechtenstein pension live abroad,” explains Martin Hasler, Secretary General of the Ministry of Society and Culture. “Swiss citizens who are entitled to a Liechtenstein pension and do not live in Liechtenstein will also receive their 13th AHV pension.” And he knows: “13 percent of the amounts paid out go to Switzerland.”

“Christmas bonus” comes in early December

In the state, the bonus is officially called “Christmas Bonus” and is paid out in early December. Nowadays, the portion ends up in the accounts of retirees.

The Christmas bonus was introduced in 1992 and started with an extra payment of 25 percent on top of the December pension. In 1994 this was increased to 50 percent and in 1998 to 100 percent of the December pension. “Today’s Christmas bonus is actually a double December pension,” says Hasler.

The minimum pension in Liechtenstein is currently 1,190 francs per month with a continuous contribution period, and the maximum pension is 2,380 francs. For comparison, in Switzerland the band is currently between 1,225 and 2,450 francs. Unlike Switzerland, there is no ceiling on pensions for married couples: married people in this country receive a maximum of 3,675 francs per month, in Liechtenstein it is 4,760 francs – and that times thirteen!

Proposals for abolition have no chance whatsoever

“The retirees were initially very happy,” reports Hasler. The responsible authorities received a large number of letters of thanks – especially from customers abroad who did not follow the political process when introducing the Christmas bonus. “Over time it became taken for granted,” he says. And: “Political proposals to abolish the Christmas bonus have proven in the past to be unable to achieve a majority.”

However, the Christmas bonus also costs money: around 8.3 percent is the extra AHV expenditure. In 2022, with a total AHV expenditure of approximately 330 million francs, this was more than 26 million francs. “There is also the Christmas bonus from the IV, which also pays out a Christmas bonus,” says Hasler.

In Austria there are even 14 payouts

Liechtenstein is not the only country that has a supplementary pension, which the trade union initiative is now calling for. In Austria and Portugal, retirees receive fourteen benefits, the trade union federation notes in a compilation. Italy also has 13 monthly pensions and an additional 14th monthly pension up to a legally established income limit – the “somma aggiuntiva”. The amount of this “additional amount” depends on the years in which the contributions were made.

Finally, in Denmark, poor retirees, who have little liquid savings, receive an income-related pension benefit once a year. “This is slightly higher than a monthly pension,” the newspaper says.

Whether Switzerland also wants to afford a 13th AHV pension will be decided in almost exactly three months.

Source:Blick