If I have significant contribution gaps, do I completely lose my AVS pension?

No. Even with significant contribution gaps, you will be entitled to an AVS pension if you have at least 1 year of paid contributions. Each gap proportionally reduces the monthly amount you will receive, but does not reset it. If the total of AVS + AI falls below the living minimum defined by the Canton of Solothurn, the supplementary benefits automatically intervene to cover the gap up to that level, guaranteeing you a decent minimum income.

How can I check if my contribution history is correct and complete?

You can request the official statement of the individual account directly from the cantonal clearing house of Solothurn or consult it online through the federal portal AVS. This document shows year by year all contributions paid and taxable income recorded with each employer. If you notice errors or unjustified gaps, report them immediately: retroactive corrections are possible if you provide evidence (e.g. payroll, contracts, employer communications).

At what age can I retire in the Canton of Solothurn?

The standard retirement age in Switzerland is 65 for both sexes. The Canton of Solothurn follows this federal legislation. However, you have the flexibility to advance your pension starting at age 63, with a permanent reduction in the amount; or postpone until age 70, with an increase in your pension. The exact methods of anticipation and postponement are governed by the federal AVS law.

What exactly is the minimum life expectancy in Canton Solothurn?

The living minimum is defined by the Canton and varies slightly from municipality to municipality depending on local expenses (rent, basic costs). It's not a flat federal amount that's the same everywhere. It is reviewed periodically (usually annually) based on inflation and local economic conditions. To find out the exact amount applicable to your municipality, please contact the supplementary benefits office of the Canton of Solothurn or your municipality of domicile.

Are supplementary benefits a permanent or temporary benefit?

They are permanent until your situation (income, wealth, rent, medical expenses) changes significantly. They are officially re-checked every year. If your AVS pension increases (for example, thanks to retroactive contributions), the supplementary benefit subsidy is automatically reduced by the same amount. The system is updated annually by the clearing house.

AVS and complementary performance in the Insole (cross-border guide)

Di Laura Bianchi · Published on 6 September 2026

Swiss cantonal office with elderly residents discussing pension documentation and paperwork.

Compensation fund, calculation of AVS annuity and complementary benefits in the Canton of Solothurn: how the local social security system works.

Context

In brief

The Solothurn compensation fund links the federal AVS and local cantonal benefits
AVS contributions paid: 5.3% on salary (employee), 5.3% (employer)
Contribution gaps directly reduce the monthly pension amount
Supplementary benefits bridge the gap to the cantonal minimum living standard

Key facts

What: Cantonal pension system in the Canton of Solothurn (first pillar AVS + supplementary benefits)
When: Continuous during affiliation and in retirement
Where: Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland
Who: Solothurn cantonal compensation fund, AVS affiliates, retirees
Amount: Contributions 5.3% employee + 5.3% employer for AVS
Authority: Solothurn cantonal compensation fund

The first pillar in the Canton of Solothurn

In the Canton of Solothurn, as in all of Switzerland, old-age pensions are based on three pillars. The first pillar is the AVS (Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance), which is mandatory for all employed and self-employed workers. It is managed at the federal level with the essential coordination of the cantonal compensation fund, which acts as a link between local affiliates and the national system.

The Solothurn compensation fund performs crucial functions: it collects monthly contributions from salaries (5.3% paid by the employee, 5.3% by the employer for AVS, plus AI), records each payment in the personal history of each affiliate, and at the time of retirement calculates the pension based on the complete contribution history. The link with supplementary benefits is essential: when AVS and disability insurance (AI) do not reach the cantonal minimum living standard, supplementary benefits intervene to cover the gap.

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Operational details

Calculation of the AVS pension and the impact of contribution gaps

The AVS pension is not a fixed amount: it depends entirely on the years of contributions paid. In Switzerland, you must have at least one year of contributions to be entitled to a pension, even a minimal one. The system takes into account all the years of affiliation from the beginning of working life (around 17 years) until the retirement age set by federal law.

Each year of regularly paid contributions progressively "fills" the personal contribution history. If entire years are missing (gaps), the pension amount decreases proportionally. A gap does not mean losing the pension entirely but receiving a significantly lower amount compared to someone with a complete contribution history.

The compensation fund of Solothurn manages this critical verification: it collects monthly contributions from employees and employers, records them in the personal history, checks for any registration gaps, and at the time of retirement, calculates the total accumulated contribution amount. This amount is then converted into a monthly pension using official federal conversion tables, which also take into account life expectancy.

An often underestimated aspect: gaps are not always "total losses." Some periods are automatically covered by solidarity contributions — for example, periods when unemployment benefits were received (Unemployment automatically pays contributions) or recognized social benefits. Checking the individual account statement with the compensation fund is the first step to identifying real gaps and not registration errors.

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Key points

How to verify your contributions and access complementary services

The first fundamental step for those who live or work in the Soletta is to check their personal contribution history. All AVS affiliates have the right to consult the individual account statement at the cantonal clearing house of Solothurn or through a federal online portal. This document shows year by year exactly what contributions were paid and what taxable income was recorded with each employer.

It is crucial to check that there are no unjustified gaps or administrative errors. If you discover an unexplained gap — for example, a period of work in which no contributions are found — you can ask the cashier for detailed information about what happened. Some gaps are covered retroactively if it is shown that you were in occupational illness, subsidized unemployment, or other protected status at that time. Other gaps can be filled if there is evidence of unrecorded wages.

When approaching the standard retirement age (65 years in the Soleta), the system automatically sends an official communication with a preliminary estimate of the monthly pension. If this estimate is lower than the cantonal minimum living allowance, the fund informs at the same time about the possibility of submitting an application for supplementary benefits already before retiring.

Practical procedure for

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have significant contribution gaps, do I completely lose my AVS pension?: No. Even with significant contribution gaps, you will be entitled to an AVS pension if you have at least 1 year of paid contributions. Each gap proportionally reduces the monthly amount you will receive, but does not reset it. If the total of AVS + AI falls below the living minimum defined by the Canton of Solothurn, the supplementary benefits automatically intervene to cover the gap up to that level, guaranteeing you a decent minimum income.
How can I check if my contribution history is correct and complete?: You can request the official statement of the individual account directly from the cantonal clearing house of Solothurn or consult it online through the federal portal AVS. This document shows year by year all contributions paid and taxable income recorded with each employer. If you notice errors or unjustified gaps, report them immediately: retroactive corrections are possible if you provide evidence (e.g. payroll, contracts, employer communications).
At what age can I retire in the Canton of Solothurn?: The standard retirement age in Switzerland is 65 for both sexes. The Canton of Solothurn follows this federal legislation. However, you have the flexibility to advance your pension starting at age 63, with a permanent reduction in the amount; or postpone until age 70, with an increase in your pension. The exact methods of anticipation and postponement are governed by the federal AVS law.
What exactly is the minimum life expectancy in Canton Solothurn?: The living minimum is defined by the Canton and varies slightly from municipality to municipality depending on local expenses (rent, basic costs). It's not a flat federal amount that's the same everywhere. It is reviewed periodically (usually annually) based on inflation and local economic conditions. To find out the exact amount applicable to your municipality, please contact the supplementary benefits office of the Canton of Solothurn or your municipality of domicile.
Are supplementary benefits a permanent or temporary benefit?: They are permanent until your situation (income, wealth, rent, medical expenses) changes significantly. They are officially re-checked every year. If your AVS pension increases (for example, thanks to retroactive contributions), the supplementary benefit subsidy is automatically reduced by the same amount. The system is updated annually by the clearing house.