AVS in Canton Uri: clearing house guide (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The first Swiss pillar (AVS/AHV) is managed by cantonal and professional clearing houses
• Supplementary benefits (PC) cover the difference when the AVS income is not sufficient at the minimum living
• The Canton Uri Compensation Fund is the cantonal institution of reference for registrations and annuities
• CPs are calculated on the basis of the recognised expenses and the applicant's computable income

Key facts

• What: Management of the first AVS pillar and complementary services (PC) in Canton Uri
• Where: Canton Uri, central Switzerland
• Who: Uri Cantonal Compensation Fund (Ausgleichskasse Uri)
• When: System in force on a federal basis, with cantonal application
• How: Contribution payments, calculation of income according to federal scales, PC application at the cantonal fund
• Regulatory reference: federally regulated AVS (LAVS), PC according to the LPC

In the Swiss three-column system, the first pillar — Old Age and Survivors Insurance (AVS/AHV) — is the basis of compulsory social security for those residing or working in Switzerland. Each canton has its own cantonal compensation fund that acts as an operational counter for workers, employers, pension recipients and claimants of supplementary benefits. In the canton of Uri, the cantonal compensation fund is the entity designated to receive wage declarations, collect AVS/AI/IPG contributions and manage applications for

Operational details

How supplementary benefits work in the Canton of Uri

Supplementary benefits (SB) to OASI/DI are regulated at the federal level by the Supplementary Benefits Act (LPC), but their payment and operational management is entrusted to the cantons. In Uri, responsibility lies with the cantonal compensation fund in collaboration with the social services, which process the application, collect the documents and calculate the monthly amount due.

The calculation formula

The SB amount is given by the difference between recognised expenses and computable income. Recognised expenses include the amount for basic needs (distinguished for single persons, couples, families), the actual rent (up to a recognised maximum), medical and paramedical expenses not covered by other insurances, and other items provided for by the LPC. Computable income, on the other hand, consists of the OASI/DI pension, any income from work, income from assets (assets above an exemption threshold are converted into notional income), third-party benefits and family allowances. If the difference is positive, the applicant is entitled to SB for the corresponding amount.

Who is entitled to SB

Persons who receive an OASI or DI pension, or who — within a certain time horizon — would be entitled to a pension, are entitled to SB, provided their economic situation meets the legal criteria. The application may also be submitted by persons who have not yet reached the reference age, if they receive a DI pension. For recipients of modest pensions, SB is often the difference between a poor old age and a dignified old age: in many situations the OASI pension alone does not even cover the rent and basic expenses.

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Key points

Practical procedure: how to submit your application in Uri

Obtaining the AVS (Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance) pension and, if necessary, supplementary benefits (PC) in the Canton of Uri requires a few precise steps. The procedure is defined at the federal level, but the point of contact is the cantonal compensation office of Uri (Ausgleichskasse Uri).

Step 1 — Check your contribution record

Before submitting any application, it is useful to request an extract of the individual account (CI) from the FSIO (UFAS/BSV) or through the compensation office. The individual account lists all contributions paid, recorded income, and any gaps. If missing years appear, discuss with the compensation office the possibility of a retroactive payment.

Step 2 — Applying for the AVS pension

The AVS pension is not paid automatically: it must be requested from the Uri compensation office, usually a few months before reaching the reference age. The office sends the forms, collects the required documents (family record, salary certificates, any periods of work abroad) and forwards the file for calculation. The first pension is normally paid retroactively from the month of application, not earlier.

Step 3 — Possible application for supplementary benefits (PC)

If the AVS pension — alone or together with other income — does not cover the vital minimum needs, the PC phase opens. The application is submitted to the Uri compensation office with the following typical documents: AVS/AI pension decision, rent certificate and lease agreement, bank and securities statements, insurance policies (life, 3a), and spouse's income certificates. The office checks the recognised expenses and computable income and issues the decision.

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