What is the difference between family allowances and training allowances?

Family allowances are paid monthly for each dependent child up to a predetermined age (generally 16 years). Training allowances are increased amounts paid during periods of apprenticeship, vocational school or recognised university, up to 25 years of age. Both are Swiss national rights, managed by cantonal clearing houses according to federal and cantonal rules.

If I change employer, will family allowances be interrupted?

No. Family allowances continue without interruption if you remain resident in Switzerland, even if you change employers. Simply notify the new compensation fund (the one affiliated to the new employer) of your situation, attaching a copy of the new employment contract. The file transfer takes place automatically within 10-15 working days.

Can I claim family allowances retroactively if I forgot to apply?

Yes. The application can be submitted up to five years after entitlement to the cheque. However, arrears are only paid from twelve months before the date of receipt of the application at the cashier. Example: If you apply today for rights from 2022, you receive arrears from 2023 onwards. It is advisable to apply without delay so as not to lose amounts due.

What happens if my child drops out of school before the age of 25?

If the child leaves a recognized training (apprenticeship, vocational school, university), the training allowances cease from the following month. On the other hand, ordinary family allowances continue until the age of 25, provided that the child remains resident in Switzerland and is still dependent on the parent (no income just above the deductible threshold).

How are family allowances taxed?

Family allowances are social benefits provided by cantonal compensation funds. For specific questions about tax treatment and tax reporting in the canton of Appenzell Outermost, it is advisable to contact the clearing house directly or contact an accredited tax advisor at the cantonal administration.

Family allowances External Appenzello: amounts and application (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 21 August 2026

Swiss cantonal office desk with family benefits application documents

Complete guide to family allowances in Outer Appenzell: how the federal-cantonal system works, conditions of law, compensation fund and application procedure.

Context

In a nutshell

Family allowances: monthly allowance for each dependent child in Switzerland
Appenzello Esterno applies the federal regime through a cantonal compensation fund
Application at the cashier affiliated to the employer or at the cantonal office

Key facts

What: Family allowances (Familienzulagen) + training allowances for children in education
When: From the first day of the month of birth until the age of 25 (or end of training)
Where: Canton Appenzello Outer, north-eastern Switzerland
Who: Parents employed, self-employed, farmers with Swiss residence
Amount: Determined by federal law and cantonal decisions (variable by canton)

The Swiss system of family allowances is one of the pillars of national social security. These are monthly subsidies paid to parents who have dependent children, designed to cover part of the costs related to education, nutrition and development.

In the Canton of Appenzell Outermost, as in all Swiss cantons, family allowances are based on a federal regulatory framework, but find practical operation through cantonal compensation funds. This model makes it possible to maintain national cohesion while adapting the amounts and procedures to local realities.

The federal-cantonal system of family allowances

Family allowances in Switzerland are not a discretionary benefit: they constitute a social right guaranteed by federal law to anyone who works

Operational details

Monthly amounts and cantonal variability

The amounts of family allowances are fixed by cantonal legislation and vary significantly from one canton to another. Outer Appenzel, like all Swiss cantons, autonomously determines the amounts applicable for:

Child allowances : paid monthly for each child up to a predetermined age (generally 16 years for children in general education)
Training allowances: amounts increased during periods of apprenticeship, vocational school or recognised universities, up to the age of 25

The exact amounts in force in the External Appenzell must be consulted directly at the competent compensation fund or on the canton portal, as these are adapted annually to correspond to the evolution of the cost of living and local political decisions.

Duration and termination of the right

The right to family allowances starts from the first day of the month in which the child is born (or from the month in which the parent acquires residence in Switzerland, whichever is the later). The ordinary term corresponds to the child's 25th birthday.

However, if the child continues in a recognized training (apprenticeship, cantonal vocational school or university) beyond the age of 25, the training allowances continue until the end of the training itself. In the case of children with a disability recognised by the AI, the payment may be extended according to specific conditions.

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Key points

Procedure for Application: the Four Steps

The presentation of the family allowance application in Appenzello Esterno follows a standardized procedure, divided into four main phases.

Step 1: Identify the competent compensation fund

Most Swiss employers are affiliated with a compensation fund for a specific sector (industry, commerce and services, agriculture, domestic enterprises). If the employer is affiliated with one of these funds, the application must be submitted to that fund.

If the employer is not affiliated with any private compensation fund, the application must be submitted directly to the Appenzello Esterno cantonal compensation fund (Ausgleichskasse Appenzell Ausserrhoden). Contacts are available on the website www.ar.ch.

Step 2: Prepare the required documentation

To advance the application, the following documents must be gathered:

Birth certificate of the children (authentic copy)
Residence certificate in the Appenzello Esterno canton
Valid identification document of the applicant
Proof of occupational situation (employment contract for employees; AVS income statement for self-employed; extract from the commercial register for individual companies)
In the case of separated or divorced parents: court ruling attesting to the child's custody
In the case of unmarried paternity: registered declaration of paternity in the civil register

Step 3: Submit the application

The application can be submitted through two channels:

Physical counter: at the competent compensation fund, during official opening hours
Online: many Swiss funds, including that of Appenzello Esterno, offer downloadable digital forms from the official website, with the possibility of telematic transmission

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between family allowances and training allowances?: Family allowances are paid monthly for each dependent child up to a predetermined age (generally 16 years). Training allowances are increased amounts paid during periods of apprenticeship, vocational school or recognised university, up to 25 years of age. Both are Swiss national rights, managed by cantonal clearing houses according to federal and cantonal rules.
If I change employer, will family allowances be interrupted?: No. Family allowances continue without interruption if you remain resident in Switzerland, even if you change employers. Simply notify the new compensation fund (the one affiliated to the new employer) of your situation, attaching a copy of the new employment contract. The file transfer takes place automatically within 10-15 working days.
Can I claim family allowances retroactively if I forgot to apply?: Yes. The application can be submitted up to five years after entitlement to the cheque. However, arrears are only paid from twelve months before the date of receipt of the application at the cashier. Example: If you apply today for rights from 2022, you receive arrears from 2023 onwards. It is advisable to apply without delay so as not to lose amounts due.
What happens if my child drops out of school before the age of 25?: If the child leaves a recognized training (apprenticeship, vocational school, university), the training allowances cease from the following month. On the other hand, ordinary family allowances continue until the age of 25, provided that the child remains resident in Switzerland and is still dependent on the parent (no income just above the deductible threshold).
How are family allowances taxed?: Family allowances are social benefits provided by cantonal compensation funds. For specific questions about tax treatment and tax reporting in the canton of Appenzell Outermost, it is advisable to contact the clearing house directly or contact an accredited tax advisor at the cantonal administration.