Full reimbursement of living costs for AHV is off the table

The small chamber took its decision very narrowly with 21 votes in favour, 20 against and one abstention. She followed a small minority of the Social Security and Health Commission (SGK-S).

With the decision, the amendment to the AHV Act is off the table. The National Council had already refused to accept the proposal on Wednesday.

Additional costs of 418 million Swiss francs

In concrete terms, it was about whether the pension increase of 2.5 percent that the Bundesrat implemented in January should be added by another 0.3 percentage point. The additional costs for 2023 and 2024 would have been CHF 418 million. According to the Federal Council, they should exceptionally not be co-financed by the federal government.

With the implementation proposal, the Bundesrat fulfilled a mandate from both councils – although it had initially opposed the project.

U-turn through Parliament

The decisions of the National Council and the Council of States represent a U-turn. In special purchasing power debates in September, both councils spoke out in favor of full compensation for inflation in AHV and IV pensions and benefits. At the time, the discussion was mainly influenced by the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine.

At that time, an alliance of the center party, SP and Greens prevailed. This was no longer the case in the Council of States when the idea was being implemented. This despite the fact that the three parties have a majority there.

As a result of the additional pension increase, those receiving a minimum pension would have received seven francs more per month. With the maximum pension there would have been 14 francs more. (SDA)

Source:Blick