13th AHV pension: who gets it, how much and who pays

What it is. AHV (German: Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung) is Switzerland's state old-age and survivors' insurance, created in 1948. In March 2024 voters approved an initiative giving every old-age pensioner a 13th pension. The first one is paid in December 2026.

Who gets it. Everyone entitled to an old-age pension in December. No application is needed. Survivors' and disability pensions are still paid twelve times a year. The 13th pension does not change how supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen) are calculated.

How much. It equals one twelfth of all old-age pension payments a person received in 2026, so it is not the same for everyone. Child and supplementary pensions are not counted. The BSV, the federal social insurance office, says the extra is up to 2,520 francs a year for a single person and up to 3,780 for a couple. Depending on the fund, you get one higher payment or two separate ones. In total, the funds pay out 9.28 billion francs in December, regular December pension included.

What it costs. Over 4 billion francs in 2026 and over 5 billion a year from 2035. In 2026 AHV spending already exceeds income by more than 1 billion francs. Without new money the yearly deficit would reach almost 5 billion francs by 2035, and the AHV fund would fall to about 50% of one year's spending.

What the vote is about. In June 2026 parliament decided to cover part of the cost with VAT. The standard rate would go from 8.1% to 8.5%, and the hotel rate from 3.8% to 4.0%. The reduced rate of 2.6% stays, which covers food, medicines, newspapers and books. The rise can take effect at the start of 2028 at the earliest, so the 2026 and 2027 payments have no extra funding. From 2029 it would bring in about 1.4 billion francs a year. The 2035 deficit would then be about 3 billion instead of 5, and the fund about 70% of yearly spending instead of 50%.

Where the retirement age comes in. The Federal Council and parliament recommend Yes. A minority in parliament is against: it says VAT weakens purchasing power and wants the cost handled in the next reform, including structural steps such as a higher retirement age. Tages-Anzeiger reports that polls show 60% of voters want to reject. Erich Ettlin of the Mitte party warns that a No would lead to a higher retirement age, while FDP and SVP say it is not on the table now. The government plans to bring the AHV2030 reform to parliament, probably in spring 2027.

Confirmed facts

• In December 2026 pensioners get a 13th AHV pension for the first time, on top of the usual December pension. Almost 2.7 million people will receive it, swissinfo reports, citing the BSV and the 74 AHV compensation funds at a press conference in Bern on November 3. The BSV page says around 2.6 million.^[1][2]
• The AHV funds pay out 9.28 billion francs in total in December, regular December pension included.^[1]
• The 13th pension equals one twelfth of all old-age pension payments a person received in 2026. Child and supplementary pensions and the supplement for women of the AHV21 transitional generation are not counted.^[1][4]
• The extra is up to 2,520 francs a year for a single pensioner and up to 3,780 for a couple.^[2][3]
• The payment is automatic and needs no application. Depending on the fund, recipients get one higher payment or two separate ones.^[1]
• People entitled to an old-age pension in December are entitled to the 13th. Survivors' and disability pensions are still paid twelve times a year. The 13th pension does not affect how supplementary benefits are calculated.^[4]
• Voters approved the 13th pension initiative on March 3, 2024.^[2][4]
• The 13th pension costs over 4 billion francs in 2026 and over 5 billion a year from 2035.^[2][3]
• In 2026 AHV spending already exceeds income by more than 1 billion francs. Without new income the deficit rises to almost 5 billion francs a year by 2035.^[2][3]
• On November 29, 2026 voters decide on a VAT rise of 0.4 points: standard rate from 8.1% to 8.5%, hotel rate from 3.8% to 4.0%. The reduced rate of 2.6% is not raised, which covers food, medicines, newspapers and books.^[2][3]
• The rise would bring the AHV extra income from 2028, about 1.4 billion francs a year from 2029 according to the BSV page and about 1.5 billion according to the Federal Council release. It can take effect at the start of 2028 at the earliest, so the 2026 and 2027 payments have no extra funding.^[2][3]
• With the VAT rise the 2035 deficit would be about 3 billion francs instead of 5, and the AHV fund about 70% of yearly spending instead of 50%.^[2][3]
• The Federal Council and parliament recommend accepting the rise. A minority in parliament opposes it: it says VAT weakens purchasing power and wants the cost handled in the next reform, including a higher retirement age.^[3]
• According to Tages-Anzeiger, polls show 60% of voters want to reject the VAT rise. Erich Ettlin of the Mitte party warns a No would lead to a higher retirement age, while FDP and SVP say it is not currently on the table.^[5]
• The Federal Council plans to bring the AHV2030 reform to parliament, probably in spring 2027.^[2]

Implications

• Our readingThe December 2026 payment does not depend on the November 29 vote: the vote only covers part of the funding.
• ConfirmedThe 2026 and 2027 payments get no extra VAT money in any case, because the rise can start in 2028 at the earliest.
• Our readingIf VAT does not rise, the argument over how to cover the deficit moves to the AHV2030 reform. That is our reading.

Still unknown

• How voters will decide on November 29, 2026
• What the AHV2030 reform will propose and whether it passes
• Why the recipient count differs: almost 2.7 million at swissinfo, around 2.6 million at the BSV

Who it affects

Switzerland, Europe. Anyone following European pension systems, and people who live or have worked in Switzerland

Sources

1. SWI swissinfo.ch: Im Dezember bekommen fast 2,7 Millionen Rentner die 13. AHV-Rente November 3, 2026 · media
2. Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen (BSV): 13. AHV-Rente: Volksabstimmung über die AHV-Zusatzfinanzierung durch eine Erhöhung der Mehrwertsteuer October 5, 2026 · official
3. Der Schweizerische Bundesrat (admin.ch): Bundesrat empfiehlt Ja zur Erhöhung der Mehrwertsteuer für die 13. AHV-Rente October 5, 2026 · official
4. Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen (BSV): Die 13. Altersrente wird erstmals im Dezember 2026 ausbezahlt November 12, 2025 · official
5. Tages-Anzeiger: Finanzierung 13. AHV-Rente: «Bei einem Nein läuft es auf eine Erhöhung des Rentenalters hinaus» November 3, 2026 · media