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 Appenzell: amounts and application

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 brief

Family allowances: monthly benefit for each dependent child in Switzerland
Appenzell Ausserrhoden applies the federal system through the cantonal compensation fund
Apply to the fund affiliated with the employer or to the cantonal office

Key facts

What: Family allowances (Familienzulagen) + education allowances for children in education
When: From the first day of the month of birth until age 25 (or the end of education)
Where: Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, northeastern Switzerland
Who: Employed parents, self-employed persons, farmers residing in Switzerland
Amount: Determined by federal law and cantonal decisions (varies by canton)

The Swiss family allowance system represents one of the pillars of the national social security system. These are monthly benefits paid to parents with dependent children, designed to cover part of the costs associated with education, food and development.

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

The federal-cantonal family allowance system

Family allowances in Switzerland are not a discretionary benefit: they constitute a social right guaranteed by federal law to anyone working as an employee, self-employed person or farmer. Their administration is coordinated between the federal level (which establishes the general rules) and the cantons (which set amounts and operating procedures).

Entitlement begins on the first day of the month in which the child is born and ends when the child turns 25, or upon completion of recognized vocational training if that occurs later. For children with disabilities recognized by federal disability insurance (AI), allowances may continue beyond age 25 under specific conditions.

The role of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Appenzell Ausserrhoden, like any Swiss canton, applies federal directives through its own cantonal compensation fund (Ausgleichskasse). This institution collects contributions paid by employers and self-employed workers and arranges the monthly payment of allowances to beneficiaries.

The Appenzell Ausserrhoden compensation fund is the primary point of contact for residents of the canton who intend to apply for family allowances. Information and forms are available from the competent cantonal offices and on the official website www.ar.ch.

Who is entitled to family allowances

Entitlement belongs to parents (father and mother, including unmarried parents) who reside in Switzerland and carry out work subject to Swiss legislation. Beneficiaries include Swiss citizens, holders of residence permits (B) or settlement permits (C), as well as cross-border workers with employment contracts in Switzerland.

Residence in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, or an employer's affiliation with a fund in the canton, determines the jurisdiction of the Appenzell fund. In the case of separated or divorced spouses, entitlement belongs to the custodial parent according to the court judgment.

Operational details

Monthly amounts and cantonal variability

The amounts of family allowances are set by cantonal legislation and vary significantly from one canton to another. Appenzell Ausserrhoden, like all Swiss cantons, independently determines the applicable amounts for:

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

The exact amounts currently applicable in Appenzell Ausserrhoden must be checked directly with the competent compensation fund or on the canton’s portal, as they are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living and local political decisions.

Duration and end of entitlement

Entitlement to family allowances begins on the first day of the month in which the child is born (or in the month in which the parent takes up residence in Switzerland, if later). The ordinary end of entitlement is when the child turns 25.

However, if the child continues with recognized education (apprenticeship, cantonal vocational school or university) beyond the age of 25, education allowances continue until the completion of that education. In the case of children with a disability recognized by the DI, payments may be extended subject to specific conditions.

Accumulation with other benefits and family situations

A crucial aspect concerns the interaction between family allowances and other social benefits. For children with disabilities recognized by the DI, ordinary family allowances and disability supplements may be combined without reductions.

Family allowances do NOT accumulate between parents: entitlement belongs exclusively to the parent living with the child or, in the case of separation or divorce, to the custodial parent according to the court judgment. In the case of joint custody, the parents may alternatively agree on receiving the allowance or divide it.

For unmarried parents, entitlement belongs to the parent who has the child as a dependent, as demonstrated by registration documents held by the civil registry office.

Nationality and residence requirements

To access family allowances in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, it is sufficient to reside in the canton and carry out employment subject to Swiss legislation. Swiss citizens, holders of B (residence) or C (settlement) permits, and cross-border workers (G permit) are all entitled to the allowances, provided they meet the employment requirements.

For non-EU/EFTA foreign nationals, entitlement is subject to possession of a valid residence permit issued by the canton.

Useful tools for planning

To estimate the pension planning strategy, try pianificatore pensionistico and simulatore 3° pilastro.

Key points

Application procedure: the four steps

Submitting an application for family allowances in Appenzell Ausserrhoden follows a standardized procedure divided into four main stages.

Step 1: Identify the competent compensation fund

Most Swiss employers are affiliated with an industry-specific compensation fund (industry, trade and services, agriculture, domestic businesses). 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 cantonal compensation fund of Appenzell Ausserrhoden (Ausgleichskasse Appenzell Ausserrhoden). Contact details can be found on www.ar.ch.

Step 2: Prepare the required documentation

To submit the application, the following documents must be collected:

Birth certificate of the child/children (certified copy)
Certificate of residence in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Valid identity document of the applicant
Proof of employment status (employment contract for employees; AVS tax return for self-employed persons; extract from the commercial register for sole proprietorships)
In the case of separated or divorced parents: court judgment confirming custody of the child
In the case of non-marital paternity: acknowledgment of paternity registered with the civil registry office

Step 3: Submit the application

The application can be submitted through two channels:

In-person counter: at the competent compensation fund, during official opening hours
Online: many Swiss compensation funds, including the one in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, offer digital forms downloadable from the official website, with the possibility of electronic submission

It is advisable to submit the application at the same time as the child’s birth or at the start of the employment relationship, so as not to lose retroactive entitlements.

Step 4: Processing and first payment

Once the application, complete with all documents, has been received, the fund processes it within the prescribed deadlines (generally 30-60 days). The first allowance is paid in the month following approval of the application, by bank transfer to the current account indicated by the applicant.

Continuity and changes over time

Once approved, the application remains active and the allowances are paid automatically every month until the entitlement ends (when the child turns 25 or completes their education). It is not necessary to renew the application annually.

However, it is essential to promptly inform the compensation fund of any change in circumstances that could affect entitlement:

Birth of additional children
Change of employer or affiliated fund
Transfer of residence to another Swiss canton
Completion of education or change of school level
Separation, divorce or change in custody

Failure to provide this information may result in unjustified interruptions or errors in payments.

Official information and contacts

For specific questions about family allowances in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, you can contact:

Company compensation fund: if the employer is affiliated with a private fund (consult the employment contract)
Cantonal compensation fund of Appenzell Ausserrhoden: www.ar.ch – “Family Allowances” or “Familienzulagen” section
Civil registry office of the municipality of residence: for questions concerning registration and civil-status documents
Tax advisor or trade union: for clarification on tax matters and coordination with other benefits

Use our calcolatore delle prestazioni previdenziali to estimate the overall impact of family allowances and other social benefits on your Swiss financial situation.

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.