What is the difference between the AVS clearinghouse and the PC office in St. Gallen?

In the Canton of St. Gallen, the Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen is the cantonal fund that collects AVS/AI/IPG contributions and calculates the first pillar income. The supplementary benefits (PC) are instead managed by the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, a separate cantonal office that assesses whether the AVS annuity, added to other income, covers the expenses recognized by the LPC and pays any monthly difference.

How much is paid in AVS contributions in Switzerland?

According to what is indicated in the source, the AVS/AI/IPG contributions are taken directly from the salary: 5.3% borne by the employee, to which is added an equal amount borne by the employer, for a total of 10.6%. The compensation fund collects the contributions and pays them to the federal funds, managing the individual accounts of each insured.

When are you entitled to supplementary benefits in the Canton of St. Gallen?

PCs come into play when the AVS income, combined with other income (LPP, foreign income, income from substance), does not cover the expenses recognized by the LPC: vital needs, household expenses, LAMal premiums and, in some cases, assistance expenses. In the Canton of St. Gallen, the application must be submitted to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, which checks the overall economic situation, including substance and mortgages.

What documents are required for PC application in St. Gallen?

For supplementary benefits in the Canton of St. Gallen, the application is submitted to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, attaching the latest AVS pension decision, the extract from the LPP pension fund, the tax return and any document on substance and debts. Decisions are recalculated annually: income and substance must be communicated every year, under penalty of suspension of payment.

AVS and PC in the Canton of St. Gallen: the clearing house (cross-border guide)

Di Laura Bianchi · Published on 30 August 2026

AVS compensation fund and supplementary benefits office in St. Gallen

AVS cashier and PC office are two separate entities: this is how the first pillar works in St. Gallen and when to ask for complementary services.

Context

In a nutshell

AVS first pillar: federal income calculated on a national scale with periodic adjustments
Canton of St. Gallen: the cantonal compensation fund manages AVS contributions and annuities
Complementary services: dedicated cantonal office, separate from the AVS fund
Contribution gaps: extend the contribution period with voluntary payments

Key facts

What: AVS Canton of St. Gallen Compensation Fund and Supplementary Benefits Office
Who: Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen for AVS; Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen for PCs
Where: Canton of St. Gallen (German-speaking Switzerland)
When: system in place, operational details updated by cantonal authorities
How it works: cash collects AVS contributions and calculates annuities; PCs are managed by a separate office
Amount: annuity and benefits calculated according to federal legislation AHVG/LPC

In the Canton of St. Gallen, the first pillar of Swiss social security is divided into two distinct bodies that residents must know how to recognize to avoid bureaucratic misunderstandings. The cantonal clearing house — Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen — is the entity that collects the AVS/AI/IPG contributions from workers and employers, calculates the AVS annuities and pays the federal benefits of the first pillar. When an insured reaches the reference age and submits the pension application, it is this fund that verifies the years of contribution, the credits for educational tasks

Operational details

Practical analysis: AVS income, gaps and vital minimum

The AVS annuity is not a fixed amount, but the result of a calculation that combines the years of contribution, the average of the income subject to contribution, and credits for educational or assistance tasks. If you are applying for an annuity in the canton of St. Gallen, please contact Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen attaching the individual account statement, salary certificates and any document certifying periods of activity abroad or stay. The cashier then transmits the decision with the indication of the monthly income due.

What happens in case of contribution gaps

Contribution gaps — years in which contributions were not paid, perhaps because the person resided abroad without bilateral agreements or exercised non-subject activity — proportionally reduce the income. The law provides for the possibility of covering them by paying arrears or voluntary contributions, but only under certain terms and conditions. A policyholder who discovers a gap in their individual account can ask the compensation fund for a recovery calculation, knowing that the cost increases with age and that the operation is especially convenient at a young age.

When supplementary services are triggered

Complementary benefits come into play when the AVS income, combined with other income (LPP, foreign income, income from substance), does not cover the expenses recognized by the LPC: vital needs,

Useful planning tools

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

Key points

What to do concretely: procedure and deadlines

Obtaining the AHV pension or supplementary benefits in the Canton of St. Gallen requires specific steps and adherence to deadlines. The AHV pension application must be submitted to the Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen approximately six months before reaching the reference age. For supplementary benefits, the application is submitted to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, attaching the latest AHV pension decision, the LPP pension fund statement, the tax return, and any documentation regarding assets and debts.

Operational checklist

Request the individual AHV account statement from the Central Compensation Office in Geneva or from the cantonal fund
Verify the completeness of contribution years and identify any gaps
If there are gaps: ask the Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen for a calculation of voluntary or backdated contributions
Submit the AHV pension application approximately six months before the retirement age
Once the AHV decision is received, assess whether the pension covers the minimum subsistence level
If not, submit an application for supplementary benefits (EL) to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen
Attach all required income and asset documentation

Useful tools and deadlines

EL decisions are recalculated annually: income and assets must be reported every year, failing which payments are suspended. For those already receiving the AHV pension who notice a change in income or family situation (marriage, widowhood, birth of children), it is advisable to submit a new EL application so that eligibility can be reassessed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the AVS clearinghouse and the PC office in St. Gallen?: In the Canton of St. Gallen, the Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen is the cantonal fund that collects AVS/AI/IPG contributions and calculates the first pillar income. The supplementary benefits (PC) are instead managed by the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, a separate cantonal office that assesses whether the AVS annuity, added to other income, covers the expenses recognized by the LPC and pays any monthly difference.
How much is paid in AVS contributions in Switzerland?: According to what is indicated in the source, the AVS/AI/IPG contributions are taken directly from the salary: 5.3% borne by the employee, to which is added an equal amount borne by the employer, for a total of 10.6%. The compensation fund collects the contributions and pays them to the federal funds, managing the individual accounts of each insured.
What happens if there are contribution gaps in the AVS account?: Contribution gaps — years without payments, for example for stays abroad without bilateral agreements — proportionally reduce the AVS income. The law provides for the possibility of covering them by paying arrears or voluntary contributions, but only under certain terms and conditions. The insured can ask the Ausgleichskasse St. Gallen for a recovery calculation: the cost increases with age and the operation is especially convenient at a young age.
When are you entitled to supplementary benefits in the Canton of St. Gallen?: PCs come into play when the AVS income, combined with other income (LPP, foreign income, income from substance), does not cover the expenses recognized by the LPC: vital needs, household expenses, LAMal premiums and, in some cases, assistance expenses. In the Canton of St. Gallen, the application must be submitted to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, which checks the overall economic situation, including substance and mortgages.
What documents are required for PC application in St. Gallen?: For supplementary benefits in the Canton of St. Gallen, the application is submitted to the Kantonsstelle für Ergänzungsleistungen, attaching the latest AVS pension decision, the extract from the LPP pension fund, the tax return and any document on substance and debts. Decisions are recalculated annually: income and substance must be communicated every year, under penalty of suspension of payment.