What is the minimum amount of AVS contributions to obtain an annuity in the Basel-City Canton?

You must have paid at least one full year of AVS contributions to obtain an ordinary annuity. Those who have paid less than one year do not receive any income, but are entitled to reimbursement of contributions paid. To obtain a full annuity (100% of the maximum amount), you must have paid 44 years of uninterrupted contributions for men and 43 years for women (with transition in progress). Each missing year reduces the annuity by about 2.2%.

How can I fill the AVS contribution gaps over the last 5 years in the Basel-City Canton?

The cantonal compensation fund allows retroactive contributions to be paid for the 5 years preceding the claim. The payment is voluntary but highly recommended: every year filled increases the future income by about 2-2.5%. The cashier provides a personal quote based on your individual account. For periods of indemnified unemployment, unemployment insurance (AD/AC) automatically covers contributions without the need for manual action.

What are supplementary benefits (PC) in the Canton of Basel-City and who is entitled to them?

The supplementary benefits cover the difference between the AVS annuity and the minimum living allowance recognised by the canton. In 2026, the living minimum is indexed annually according to the federal SVP index and varies according to the number of people in the household and the specific housing costs of the canton. Those who reach retirement age (65 years for men, 63-64 for women in transition) and have an AVS income below the minimum living wage are entitled to apply for PCs. The application must be submitted within one month of reaching retirement age to the Department of Health and Social Affairs (DSS) of the Canton of Basel-City.

What documents are needed to apply for supplementary benefits in Basel City?

The application requires: rental agreement and payment receipts (last 3 months), tax return (last 2 years), bank statements (last 2 months), certificate of ownership if homeowner, active LAMal policy of each family member, and certificate of absence of significant assets if required. The PC office will communicate all the necessary forms. The decision is normally issued within 30–45 days of the submission of the complete application.

Where can I request information about my AVS annuity in the Canton of Basel-City?

The Cantonal Clearing House of the Canton of Basel-City is the single point of reference for all AVS matters. You can contact the office by phone, email or in person at the counter. The consultation is completely free. You can also access the UFAS/BSV website to download forms, check the maximum amounts indexed for the current year, and use online calculation tools. The municipalities also offer free voluntary assistance through the SVP counters (Voluntary Service for Pensioners).

AVS and complementary services: guide Canton Basel City (cross-border guide)

Di Laura Bianchi · Published on 19 August 2026

AVS pension documents and complementary benefits at the cantonal compensation fund office

First pillar and cantonal compensation fund: how the calculation of the AVS annuity works, fill contribution gaps and access supplementary benefits for the minimum living wage in Basel-City.

Context

In a nutshell

The compensation fund manages AVS contributions (5.3% employees, 10.6% total with employer)
Contribution gaps reduce future income by as much as 1-2% per missing year
Complementary services fill the gap between income and cantonal minimum wage

Key facts

What: First pillar AVS and complementary services in the Canton Basel-City
When: Retirement from 65 years of age (men); 63-64 years of age (women in transition)
Where: Cantonal Compensation Fund/ Department of Health and Social Services (DSS)
Who: UFAS/BSV (federal level); cantonal funds (coordination)
Amount: Minimum vital 2026 indexed annually according to federal SVP

First pillar and cantonal compensation fund

The cantonal compensation fund of the Canton of Basel-City is the entity responsible for the concrete management of the first pillar of social security, namely Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (AVS). It is not a personal savings fund, but a solidarity contribution system: those who work pay AVS contributions (5.3% for employees, 10.6% total with the employer's contribution) that directly finance the pensions of current pensioners.

The fund collects these contributions through the salary and pays them to the Confederation, which then redistributes the funds to the cantonal funds on the basis of demographic needs and income demands. At the same time, the cantonal fund calculates and pays old-age, survivors' and

Operational details

Complementary services and minimum life expectancy in the canton

When the AVS annuity is not sufficient to cover the cost of living, supplementary benefits (PC) intervene. In the Canton of Basel-City, supplementary benefits are provided by the Department of Health and Social Affairs (DSS) in coordination with the cantonal compensation fund.

Supplementary benefits are not a charitable welfare measure, but a right enshrined in the Federal Act on Supplementary Benefits to AVH and AI (LPPC). Any resident who reaches retirement age and does not have sufficient income can make use of it.

The concept of vital minimum

PCs calculate the difference between disposable income (AVS income + other income from work, rent or property, private pensions, AI annuities) and the living minimum recognized in the canton. The living minimum covers rent, food, energy, communications, local transport and essential needs.

In 2026, the reference federal minimum wage remains indexed annually according to the SVP (Business Statistics) wage index. Each canton may set slightly different amounts based on the local cost of living. In the Canton of Basel-City, the living minimum is established by the State Council and communicated annually through the administrative circulars.

By way of example (federal data 2025, subject to cantonal variation): for a single person, the federal minimum wage is

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

Practical Procedure: How to Access Benefits

Those living in the City of Basel and approaching retirement age must follow a precise procedure to ensure they do not lose money owed and obtain the optimal combination of AVS and PC. Here are the concrete steps.

Step 1: Request an Individual Account (Versichertenkonto)

At least 4–6 months before the scheduled retirement date, contact the cantonal compensation fund of the City of Basel to request your individual account (Versichertenkonto / Dossier individuel). This document summarizes:

All contributions paid since the first job to date
Any gaps and non-covered periods
The average income calculated according to the federal formula

The request is free and can be made online, by mail, or in person at the counter. The fund will send the account within 2–3 weeks.

Step 2: Verify and Fill Gaps in Contributions

By examining the account, identify any gaps. If present and dating back to the last 5 years, it is possible to pay voluntary retroactive contributions. The fund provides an estimate of the amount due.

For periods of indemnified unemployment, the unemployment insurance (AD/AC) automatically covers contributions, so no manual intervention is required.

For other missing periods (periods abroad, non-indemnified illness), retroactive payment is optional but highly recommended: each year filled increases the future pension by approximately 2–2.5%.

Step 3: Obtain the Pension Simulation

The cantonal compensation fund provides a written simulation of the estimated AVS pension based on current data. This document indicates:

The gross monthly pension amount
Deductions (LAMal contributions, if applicable)
The effective net amount

…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum amount of AVS contributions to obtain an annuity in the Basel-City Canton?: You must have paid at least one full year of AVS contributions to obtain an ordinary annuity. Those who have paid less than one year do not receive any income, but are entitled to reimbursement of contributions paid. To obtain a full annuity (100% of the maximum amount), you must have paid 44 years of uninterrupted contributions for men and 43 years for women (with transition in progress). Each missing year reduces the annuity by about 2.2%.
How can I fill the AVS contribution gaps over the last 5 years in the Basel-City Canton?: The cantonal compensation fund allows retroactive contributions to be paid for the 5 years preceding the claim. The payment is voluntary but highly recommended: every year filled increases the future income by about 2-2.5%. The cashier provides a personal quote based on your individual account. For periods of indemnified unemployment, unemployment insurance (AD/AC) automatically covers contributions without the need for manual action.
What are supplementary benefits (PC) in the Canton of Basel-City and who is entitled to them?: The supplementary benefits cover the difference between the AVS annuity and the minimum living allowance recognised by the canton. In 2026, the living minimum is indexed annually according to the federal SVP index and varies according to the number of people in the household and the specific housing costs of the canton. Those who reach retirement age (65 years for men, 63-64 for women in transition) and have an AVS income below the minimum living wage are entitled to apply for PCs. The applicati
What documents are needed to apply for supplementary benefits in Basel City?: The application requires: rental agreement and payment receipts (last 3 months), tax return (last 2 years), bank statements (last 2 months), certificate of ownership if homeowner, active LAMal policy of each family member, and certificate of absence of significant assets if required. The PC office will communicate all the necessary forms. The decision is normally issued within 30–45 days of the submission of the complete application.
Where can I request information about my AVS annuity in the Canton of Basel-City?: The Cantonal Clearing House of the Canton of Basel-City is the single point of reference for all AVS matters. You can contact the office by phone, email or in person at the counter. The consultation is completely free. You can also access the UFAS/BSV website to download forms, check the maximum amounts indexed for the current year, and use online calculation tools. The municipalities also offer free voluntary assistance through the SVP counters (Voluntary Service for Pensioners).