disability benefit

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When do insured persons receive a disability pension?

If integration measures are unsuccessful.

Disability pensions are only paid if integration measures do not achieve their goal or only partially achieve it.

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How is the degree of disability measured?

According to the amount of loss of earnings in percent.

In order to determine the degree of disability, the IV distinguishes between:

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• gainfully employed

• non-employed and

• partially employed.

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In the case of employed persons, the IV office assesses the degree of disability using an income comparison. It first determines the income from work that could be achieved without the damage to health. From this it deducts the income from work that could reasonably be achieved after the damage to health and after the implementation of rehabilitation measures, regardless of whether this income is actually achieved. This results in a shortfall: the disability-related loss of earnings. Expressing this as a percentage gives the degree of disability. So if a craftsman who had to give up his job because of a back problem only finds an easier job where he earns significantly less, the degree of disability is calculated as follows:

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• Income as a skilled craftsman: Fr. 50,000.--

• Reasonable income for lighter work: CHF 22,000

• Difference: Fr. 28,000.--

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The loss of earnings of CHF 28,000 corresponds to 56%. This means that the craftsman's degree of disability is also 56%, which results in half a pension.

In the case of people who are not gainfully employed, the IV office measures the degree of disability using a job comparison: IV experts clarify on the spot how severe the disability is in the previous area of responsibility, e.g. in the household.

In the case of part-time employees, the IV office assesses the degree of disability according to the disability in both areas: in working life (loss of employment) and in the previous area of responsibility (comparison of jobs).

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How does the IV distinguish between inability to work and inability to work?

Inability to work is not the same as inability to work.

Unable to work is someone who can no longer work in their previous job or area of responsibility due to the damage to their health. The degree of incapacity for work is determined by the doctor.

Unemployable is anyone who is no longer able to work on the entire relevant labor market due to the damage to health. Only the inability to work is decisive for the assessment of the degree of disability. This is determined by the IV office.

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How is the amount of the IV pensions calculated?

According to insurance period and income.

The same system is used to calculate the IV pension amount as for AHV pensions: the decisive factors are how long the disabled person has been insured and what their average income was. The amounts paid out for IV pensions are the same as those for AHV. The maximum pension is twice the minimum pension.

The degree of disability determines the pension:

• Degree of disability from 40% = quarter pension

• Degree of disability from 50% = half pension

• Degree of disability from 60% = three-quarters pension

• Degree of disability from 70% = full pension

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When does the entitlement to an IV pension begin?

After the waiting time has expired.

The entitlement to an IV pension begins at the end of a one-year waiting period at the earliest. During that year, the average incapacity must be at least 40 percent, and there must be at least the same level of incapacity after this period.

In addition, the pension entitlement arises at the earliest six months after submitting the application to the IV office and at the earliest in the month following the 18th birthday.

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When does the entitlement to IV pensions end?

By AHV age at the latest.

The entitlement to IV pensions expires when the requirements are no longer met, but at the latest when the IV pensioner reaches AHV age or is entitled to an old-age pension.

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