What are the minimum requirements to access the AVS in the Canton of Graubünden?

You must pay AVS contributions for at least one year during your working life. In the Canton of Graubünden, the Compensation Fund records all payments of employees, self-employed and unemployed subsidized. If you have worked in other Swiss cantons or abroad as a Swiss citizen, contributions are accumulated towards the national total. There is no minimum residence in Graubünden to access the AVS, but the cantonal fund administers your file based on your current registration.

When should I apply for AVS if I turn 65?

The application must be submitted within the 3rd month following your birthday. If you turn 65 in June, the deadline is the end of September. It is advisable to submit the application 4-6 months in advance, so the fund has time to collect documentation and verify the years of contribution. Postponing the claim reduces the retroactive annuity that may be due to you.

What is the difference between AVS and complementary services?

The AVS is your insurance entitlement calculated on years and contribution income. Supplementary benefits are a supplement granted only if the AVS does not cover the minimum living allowance (food, housing, health). Not everyone eligible for AVS receives supplementary benefits: it depends on assets, income from other pillars (LPP) and living costs. The cantonal clearing house automatically assesses the claim during the claim process.

How are contribution gaps in my income counted?

Each year of missing contribution proportionally reduces your income. If you are 40 years old out of 43 required, the calculated annuity is reduced by about 7% (3 years missing out of 43). However, if the gap is due to involuntary unemployment, illness, or other certified legitimate reasons, the cash may partially cover the hole. Check with the Graubünden Compensation Fund which reasons for the gap are considered legitimate.

Can I apply for AVS before the age of 65 in the Canton of Graubünden?

Yes, you can postpone (up to 70 years) or anticipate (from 62 years) the request. Prepayment reduces the monthly rent by 6.8% for each year in advance; postponing the increase by 5.2% per year. In the Canton of Graubünden, the clearinghouse calculates the gross amount and the net amount depending on the choice. The decision has permanent effects on the annuity, so check well with the cashier before choosing.

AVS and complementary services in the Canton of Graubünden

Di Laura Bianchi · Published on 2 September 2026

Swiss cantonal administration office: financial advisor examining pension and AVS documents

First pillar, contribution gaps and access to supplementary benefits: a practical guide for residents and taxpayers of the Canton of Graubünden.

Context

In brief

AVS is the first Swiss pillar: basic insurance with pension calculated on contribution years
Supplementary benefits intervene if AVS does not cover the minimum living standard
Cantonal compensation fund in Graubünden manages requests and payments

Key facts

What: AVS (1st pillar) + supplementary benefits for Graubünden residents
Where: Graubünden Cantonal Compensation Fund
When: Application at the reference age (65 years for the majority)
Who: Federal Social Insurance Office (national standards) + cantonal administration (supplementary benefits)
Requirement: At least one year of contributions paid for the right to the minimum AVS benefit

The role of AVS in the Canton of Graubünden

The AVS (Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance) is the first pillar of Swiss social security. In the Canton of Graubünden, as in every canton, the cantonal compensation fund manages pension requests and related benefits. The FSO (Federal Social Insurance Office) sets the national criteria and thresholds, while the cantonal administration manages the supplementary benefits and checks the access requirements.

The AVS pension is calculated considering the years of contributions paid as an employee, self-employed, or unemployed. One year of minimum contribution is sufficient to access a minimum benefit, while a full career (43 years for men, 42 for women until 2025) allows reaching the maximum national pension. The average career income is another element: the higher the average income paid, the higher the pension.

Supplementary benefits: the bridge to the minimum living standard

When the AVS pension does not cover the basic expenses to live with dignity, supplementary benefits to AVS intervene. These are not welfare aids but rights derived from a national insurance system with precise access thresholds. In the Canton of Graubünden, the compensation fund assesses the assets, income from other pillars (LPP), and family situation to determine if the AVS pension is insufficient.

The minimum living standard is established by federal law and varies slightly by canton. Supplementary benefits fill the gap between the AVS pension actually paid and the amount that guarantees economic dignity.

Contribution gaps: causes and consequences

Periods of unemployment, illness, irregular or underreported work generate contribution gaps. Those who have interrupted their career for caregiving (assisting family members) may also present years without contributions. The cantonal compensation fund examines the gaps and evaluates if there are legitimate reasons (involuntary unemployment, certified work incapacity, etc.). In the absence of legitimate reasons, the pension decreases proportionally: a career with a 2-year gap out of 43 will have a pension reduction calculated on a proportional basis.

Furthermore, if the gap is so large that it excludes the right to the minimum benefit (less than 1 year of contributions), there will be no AVS pension, but the person may still access supplementary benefits if in a situation of need.

Operational details

Calculation of the pension: from contributions to monthly pension

The monthly AVS pension is determined by the average income earned during the career. This average income is not simply calculated as an arithmetic mean: the Swiss system applies a formula that takes into account the evolution of salaries over time. Recent periods have a greater weight than distant ones. The calculated average income is then multiplied by the pension rate, which varies depending on the retirement age and gender.

A contributor who has paid contributions throughout their career will receive a higher pension than someone with gaps. For example, a hypothetical scenario: a person with 40 years of regular contributions will have a stronger base compared to someone with 35 years (a 5-year difference affects the final pension). The cantonal compensation fund performs this calculation before communicating the expected pension amount.

Furthermore, those who have funds in the second pillar (LPP/BVG) see their AVS benefit coordinated with the LPP value. This means that a certain amount of the LPP benefit (the coordination deduction) is subtracted from the AVS pension calculation to avoid double payments. This mechanism is technical but important: it does not increase the total pension but distributes it between AVS and LPP.

Thresholds for access to supplementary benefits

After calculating the AVS pension, the cantonal fund evaluates whether this covers the minimum living expenses. Supplementary benefits are granted if the income from all sources (AVS, LPP, rents, family donations, etc.) is below the minimum living standard set by federal law.

The minimum living standard includes:

Food and housing for the person
Medical expenses not covered by health insurance (prescriptions not supported by LAMal/KVG)
Health insurance itself (LAMal/KVG premiums)
Public transportation expenses for essential needs

Each canton slightly adapts these criteria, but the federal guidelines remain the same. In the Canton of Graubünden, the compensation fund verifies the assets: if the person owns real estate, savings, or other assets, these are considered. A threshold of exempt assets (personal belongings, main residence) is protected, but values above this limit reduce access to benefits.

Supplementary benefits vs. social assistance

It is crucial not to confuse supplementary AVS benefits with municipal social assistance. The former are managed at the federal/cantonal level and are a right derived from the payment of contributions (even if minimal). Social assistance is a municipal safety net for those without income and not entitled to other benefits. Supplementary benefits have insurance dignity; assistance is precautionary support.

Useful planning tools

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

Key points

How to submit a request in the Canton of Graubünden

The AVS application must be submitted to the compensation fund of the Canton of Graubünden within 3 months from the date of eligibility (usually the month following the 65th birthday). The application can be submitted to the cantonal compensation fund office via the official form, available online or at the counter. The form requires complete personal data, AVS insurance number, declaration of current residence in Graubünden, and authorization for data verification with other federal and cantonal offices.

Essential Documentation

The compensation fund requires:

Birth certificate (for identity verification)
Marriage certificate and any divorce certificates (to verify changes in marital status)
Income tax returns for the past 2-3 years (to assess wealth and income from other sources)
LPP status certification (if the applicant has joined pension funds)
Declaration of real estate assets (ownership, mortgages, rental income received)
Recent bank statements (to assess liquid assets)

If the applicant has lived or worked in other cantons, they must provide certificates from previous compensation funds to ensure that all contribution years have been correctly registered in the federal system.

Deadlines and Procedure

After submitting the application, the Graubünden compensation fund has 30-45 days to perform preliminary checks. If the application is complete, the first payment may occur within 2-3 months of the request. Administrative holidays (August, end of year) can extend the processing time.

Once approved, the AVS pension is paid monthly into the specified bank account. If the applicant is also entitled to supplementary benefits, the fund will communicate this in a separate notice, specifying the additional monthly amount and conditions (e.g., annual wealth checks).

Use this tool to estimate the expected pension amount before submitting the official request. In case of significant contribution gaps, the calculator can help simulate scenarios of reduced pensions. Contact the compensation fund of the Canton of Graubünden directly for free preliminary advice: the fund is legally obligated to provide information about your rights. To evaluate the minimum budget in the Canton of Graubünden and plan your pension, consult our cost of living tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum requirements to access the AVS in the Canton of Graubünden?: You must pay AVS contributions for at least one year during your working life. In the Canton of Graubünden, the Compensation Fund records all payments of employees, self-employed and unemployed subsidized. If you have worked in other Swiss cantons or abroad as a Swiss citizen, contributions are accumulated towards the national total. There is no minimum residence in Graubünden to access the AVS, but the cantonal fund administers your file based on your current registration.
When should I apply for AVS if I turn 65?: The application must be submitted within the 3rd month following your birthday. If you turn 65 in June, the deadline is the end of September. It is advisable to submit the application 4-6 months in advance, so the fund has time to collect documentation and verify the years of contribution. Postponing the claim reduces the retroactive annuity that may be due to you.
What is the difference between AVS and complementary services?: The AVS is your insurance entitlement calculated on years and contribution income. Supplementary benefits are a supplement granted only if the AVS does not cover the minimum living allowance (food, housing, health). Not everyone eligible for AVS receives supplementary benefits: it depends on assets, income from other pillars (LPP) and living costs. The cantonal clearing house automatically assesses the claim during the claim process.
How are contribution gaps in my income counted?: Each year of missing contribution proportionally reduces your income. If you are 40 years old out of 43 required, the calculated annuity is reduced by about 7% (3 years missing out of 43). However, if the gap is due to involuntary unemployment, illness, or other certified legitimate reasons, the cash may partially cover the hole. Check with the Graubünden Compensation Fund which reasons for the gap are considered legitimate.
Can I apply for AVS before the age of 65 in the Canton of Graubünden?: Yes, you can postpone (up to 70 years) or anticipate (from 62 years) the request. Prepayment reduces the monthly rent by 6.8% for each year in advance; postponing the increase by 5.2% per year. In the Canton of Graubünden, the clearinghouse calculates the gross amount and the net amount depending on the choice. The decision has permanent effects on the annuity, so check well with the cashier before choosing.