AVS and complementary services in Canton Uri (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Mandatory first pillar: 5.3% employee salary contributions
• Uri Compensation Fund collects payments and calculates AVH annuities
• Contribution gaps: recoverable through additional payments
• Supplementary benefits cover the minimum living allowance if insufficient income

Key facts

• What: First pillar (AVS) managed by cantonal clearing house
• When: Contributions paid throughout the working life; reference age pension
• Where: Canton Uri; UFAS offices for federal matters
• Who: Employees, employers, freelancers (each contributes their own %)
• Rate: 5.3% of salary for employees; 5.3% employers; 10.6% self-employed
• Protection: Complementary services for those who do not reach a vital minimum
• Institution: BSV (Federal Office of Social Insurance) coordinates at federal level

The first pillar in Canton Uri

In Canton Uri, as in all Swiss cantons, the first pillar of social security (AVS) represents the basis of the protection system for old age and disability. The cantonal compensation fund, a federal body at regional level, is responsible for the collection of compulsory contributions and the calculation of annuities.

AVS contributions follow a precise pattern: employees pay 5.3% of their salary, employers an identical percentage (5.3%), while the self-employed pay 10.6% of their income. This structure ensures that funding

Operational details

Complementary services: the role in the protection of the vital minimum

In Canton Uri, the supplementary benefit system (CCP) acts as a safety net for policyholders whose AVS annuity is not sufficient to cover basic living expenses: housing, food, healthcare, utilities. CCPs are paid in conjunction with the AVS annuity, to supplement it up to the level of the vital minimum. The amount varies depending on the personal situation (single person, couple, households with children) and the actual regional costs in the canton.

It is not a fixed amount universal benefit: each case is evaluated on the basis of concrete need. Those who receive an AVS annuity close to the limit but still insufficient can apply for CCPs to bridge the gap. The recognition is automatic if the application is submitted correctly and the documents are complete.

Combination AVS + LPP + complementary performance

The first pillar (AVS) is flanked by the secondo pilastro (LPP, Cassa pensioni), which collects contributions from employees and employers in proportion to the coordinated salary. LPP contributions vary by age group:

• 25–34 years: 7%
• 35–44 years: 10%
• 45–54 years: 15%
• 55 years and over: 18% (up to the reference age)

When the first and second pillars together do not reach the vital minimum , the CCPs intervene. Those who have integrated with a third pillar (3a) further strengthen their protection, even if it is not mandatory.

Practical procedure in the Canton

Useful planning tools

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

Key points

How to verify your contributions and request supplementary benefits

The first step is to verify your contribution record with the compensation fund of Canton Uri. You can obtain an extract (contribution account) by presenting yourself directly at the counters or by requesting the documentation by mail. The extract shows year by year the registered payments, any gaps, and the number of accumulated contribution years.

If there are gaps in the extract, the fund informs about the deadlines for recovery. The retroactive payment of missing contributions must be accompanied by an invoice from the fund itself with an amount indexed according to federal directives. The terms for recovery are limited: it is not possible to recover gaps of more than five years without proven reasons of force majeure.

Application for supplementary benefits: step-by-step

1. Verify eligibility: The AVS pension (plus any other pension from LPP, third pillar, or private policies) must not cover the minimum cost of living in Canton Uri. If the sum is lower, you have the right to submit an application.

2. Gather documents: Extract your UFAS account from the federal portal (e-service authentication), obtain your AVS pension certificate from the Uri cantonal fund, and prepare a detailed statement of monthly expenses (rent with contract, health insurance premiums, utilities, food).

3. Complete the application: Download the application form from the Canton Uri administration website. There are no unified federal forms; each canton has its own administrative procedure.

4. Submit: Send the application by mail or deliver it to the competent counter. Check the deadline: usually the application must arrive before December 31st for recognition of the previous year.

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