Non-employed – and properly insured

Non-employed refers to persons who earn little or no income from work.

This includes, amongst other things:

• Persons with no income from gainful activity throughout the entire year

• Persons with an incapacity for work

• Persons providing family care with no earned income

• Students without a holiday job

• Persons on a world trip or a sabbatical

• Jobseekers not receiving unemployment daily allowance

• Persons in early retirement

Persons working on an irregular basis or not in full-time permanent employment may also be classified as non-employed.

In this case, the level of your contributions is determined by your assets and any pension income. (This refers to recurring benefits, such as from a pension fund, accident insurance benefits, or an early-drawdown pension.)

The compensation office calculates the basis as follows: Your assets plus 20 times your annual pension income.

Based on this total, the compensation office determines your annual contribution using the contribution table for non-employed persons. As your assets grow or pension income (LINK to Glossary) increases, your contributions will rise accordingly.

You can estimate your expected contribution using our online calculator.

If you work part-time or on an irregular basis, the compensation office compares two amounts:

• The OASI contributions you have actually paid

• The contribution you would be required to pay as a non-employed person

The contributions you paid must meet the minimum amount and equal at least half the amount you would owe if you did not work.

If your paid contributions fall below either of these thresholds, you must pay contributions for the entire year as a non-employed person.

To register, use the online form provided by your compensation office.

You can find further information on "Non-employment" and the relevant application form here.

If you retire before the reference age of 65 and are no longer in gainful employment, you are classified as a person in early retirement. You must register with a compensation office as a non-employed person.

Aged 58 and over: Register with the compensation office of your most recent employer. Under the age of 58: Register with the compensation office in your canton of residence. The office will also calculate and request contributions for non-employed spouses.

Even as a non-employed person, you are required to pay OASI/DI/ICO contributions until you reach the reference age. Contribution gaps will result in a reduction of your state pension.

If you are unable to work due to illness or acccident, you must register as non-employed with your compensation office. This ensures you avoid contribution gaps and a reduction in your state pension.

If you receive a disability pension and are not working, you must pay OASI contributions as a non-employed person.

If you are receiving a sickness daily or accident allowance, your employer generally does not deduct OASI contributions. In certain circumstances, you may be required to pay these yourself. Please contact your compensation office to ensure you avoid contribution gaps and a reduction your state pension.

If you receive unemployment daily allowance, you remain insured under the 1st pillar (OASI/DI/ICO). Your contributions are automatically deducted. No further action is required on your part.

Do you no longer receive a daily allowance because you have exhausted your entitlement? Aged 58 and over: Register with the compensation office of your most recent employer. Under the age of 58: Register with the compensation office in your canton of residence.  As a non-employed person, you will be required to pay at least the minimum OASI contribution per year. This prevents contribution gaps and a reduction in your pension.

If you are widowed or divorced and are not working, you are required to pay OASI/DI/ICO contributions. The amount of your contribution is based on your assets and any regular income, such as: maintenance payments or pensions.

You must pay at least the minimum OASI contribution per year to avoid contribution gaps and a reduction your state pension.

Aged 58 and over: Register with the compensation office of your most recent employer. Under the age of 58: Register with the compensation office in your canton of residence as a non-employed person. 

Students are also required to pay OASI contributions from the age of 21.

If you live in Switzerland and are pursuing education/training following the completion of compulsory schooling, you must pay contributions to the compensation office of the canton where your educational institution is located.

Students are exempt from paying contributions if one of the following conditions is met:

• You have already paid at least CHF 530 in OASI contributions during the relevant year. You can prove this by providing a certificate from your employer or a compensation office. These contributions relate to an income from gainful activity of at least CHF 5,000 or to compensation for loss of earnings (for example, during military service).

• You are residing in Switzerland solely for the purpose of study and intend to leave the country thereafter.

• Your spouse works at least at 50 per cent and for more 9 months of the year. He or she pays OASI contributions of at least CHF 1,060. 

Universities and schools generally register their students with the relevant compensation office once a year. No further action is required on your part.

The office will contact you. If you do not receive a notification or an invoice, please contact the compensation office at your place of study.

If you remain a resident of Switzerland while travelling or on a sabbatical, you must continue to pay OASI contributions. This ensures you avoid contribution gaps and a reduction in your state pension. Register as a non-employed person with the compensation office in your canton of residence.

If you move abroad or work outside of Switzerland, your OASI obligation ends. Special rules apply to individuals moving to EU or EFTA countries.

All persons residing in Switzerland are required to pay OASI/DI/ICO contributions. This also applies to individuals receiving social assistance.

You must register as a non-employed person with the compensation office in your canton of residence.

The office may reduce or waive OASI contributions for non-employed persons if the payment is unreasonable, i.e., if the payment would cause undue hardship for the insured person.

To find out, submit a written application to your compensation office.

Are you active in gainful employment for less than 9 months of the year and below 50 per cent? If so, your compensation office will verify whether you must pay contributions as a non-employed person. This is determined on the basis of a comparative calculation.

Any contributions you have already paid can be offset. Submit an application.

The status of non-employed person applies to persons with little or no income from gainful activity. This category includes spouses and civil partners of individuals who work abroad.

When calculating your contributions, the income earned by your spouse or partner from their employment abroad will be taken into account. This applies even if that income is not subject to Swiss contribution liability. 

Aged 58 and over: Register with the compensation office of your most recent employer. Under the age of 58: Register with the compensation office in your canton of residence, if you have little or no income.

Spouses and civil partners who have no income are still liable for contributions.

Your contributions are deemed to have been paid if your spouse or partner is considered to be in gainful employment and pays at least double the minimum contribution (CHF 1,060). You are covered under their OASI insurance and do not need to register.

If you work for less than 9 months and at 50% of full-time hours per year, please register as a non-employed person so that a comparative calculation can be made.

Are you currently employed but unsure whether you are classified as a non-employed person for OASI/DI/ICO purposes? Check if the following criteria applies to you:

• You earn less than CHF 5,000 per year or less than CHF 10,000 for married couples.

• You work for less than 9 months of the year.

• Your working hours are below 50 per cent.

Do any of the above apply to you? Aged 58 and over: Register with the compensation office of your most recent employer. Under the age of 58: Register with the compensation office in your canton of residence.  The office will verify your situation.

From 1 January following your 20th birthday, you are required to pay OASI/DI/ICO contributions every year – regardless of whether you work or not.

You must pay at least the minimum contribution until you reach the reference age of 65. This ensures you avoid contribution gaps and a reduction in your state pension.

If you are employed but any of the following apply, you must pay contributions as a non-employed person:

• Your gross annual income is below CHF 5,000, or below a combined total of CHF 10,000 for married couples.

• You work for less than 9 months of the year.

• Your working hours are below 50 per cent.

In these cases, contact the compensation office in your canton of residence. They will verify your situation. 

Please check your individual record regularly for any contribution gaps. Request your individual record statement online here. You can only make back payments for up to five years.