Who is entitled to family allowances in the canton of St. Gallen?

Employees who are subject to the AHV contribution obligation and self-employed persons registered with the competent funds, including so-called equivalent cross-border commuters who are gainfully employed in Switzerland and pay contributions, are entitled to it. Children must fall within the definition of a child under the FAA: children of one's own, of the spouse, children in foster care, orphans and, to a certain extent, cohabiting brothers and sisters. For children in education, the right is extended until the age of 25, provided that they attend a recognized school or apprenticeship.

How much is the family allowance due in St. Gallen?

The monthly amounts per child and per child in education are defined year by year by the cantonal legislation of St. Gallen, which may provide for differentiations according to the age of the child or the type of education, in compliance with the federal minimums of the LAFam. For the current value, it is necessary to consult the official website of the canton or the relevant family compensation office, as the exact figures are not specified in the source.

To which family compensation office should I submit the application?

For an employee, the competent fund is the one to which the employer is affiliated; for a self-employed person, it is the fund with which he or she is registered. The fund is designated by the cantonal office in charge of St. Gallen, which supervises the recognised family compensation offices. If you move to another canton or change employer, the competent fund changes and the application must be updated accordingly.

What documents do I need for the family allowance application?

The procedure is usually initiated online via the fund portal or on paper. The family status certificate, the children's identity document, any educational certificate for adult children and, for cross-border workers, proof of employment in Switzerland and AHV contributions must be attached. It is important to keep the receipt and update the fund in the event of significant changes in your family or employment situation.

How are family allowances financed in St. Gallen?

The financing is based on equal contributions from employers, calculated on the wage bill and managed by family compensation offices. The obligation to pay contributions has been extended to all employers since 2009, the year in which the FALA came into force, which harmonised the right to benefits at federal level, leaving the cantons free to provide for higher amounts or additional benefits.

Family allowances St. Gallen: amounts and application (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 30 August 2026

Swiss documents and salary slip for family allowances application in Canton St. Gallen

St. Gallen cantonal scheme on family benefits and training: who is entitled, which fund to contact and how to submit the application.

Context

In short

Family allowances in the Canton of St. Gallen: cantonal and federal benefits
Rights related to children, education and income from employed or independent activity
Competent compensation fund designated by the cantonal office
Application via official form with family documents

Key facts

What: Family and training allowance system in the Canton of St. Gallen
When: Cantonal regulatory framework in force (reference to the federal LAFam)
Where: Canton of St. Gallen, German-speaking Switzerland
Who: Employers, employees and self-employed workers with children; recognized family compensation funds; St. Gallen cantonal office
Amount: Monthly amounts per child and per child in education defined by the cantonal legislation of St. Gallen (reference to the updated official values)
Legal basis: Federal Family Allowances Act (LAFam) and St. Gallen Cantonal Act
Financing: Equal contributions from employers on salaries, with management entrusted to the compensation funds for family allowances
Disbursement: Monthly payment through the employer or directly from the fund for the self-employed

The Swiss family allowance system is based on a double level: the Federal Law on Family Allowances (LAFam) establishes the common rules valid in all cantons, while each canton - including St. Gallen - regulates amounts, ancillary conditions and competent fund through its own legislation. In the Canton of St. Gallen, allowances are paid by recognized family compensation funds, which operate under the supervision of the responsible cantonal office. For those who work in Switzerland - as an employee or as a self-employed person - coverage is mandatory and follows criteria linked to the family unit, the age composition of the children and, in some cases, the level of income.

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Operational details

Analysis: what changes for families and employers

Compared to the past, the system of family allowances has been progressively standardised by the LAFam, which came into force in 2009. Before that date, each Canton could decide whether or not to establish a family compensation fund. Today, on the other hand, the contributory obligation is extended to all employers and the right to benefit is harmonized at the federal level, without prejudice to the right of the Cantons to provide higher amounts or additional benefits. St. Gallen fits into this logic by offering, like other cantons in German-speaking Switzerland, a structure of family coffers parallel to the AVS coffers, with contributory obligations calculated on the wage bill.

Practical implications for those living and working in Switzerland

For a family residing in Switzerland with dependent children, the allowance represents a non-taxable monthly income supplement, which is added to the salary and does not affect the calculation of direct federal tax or cantonal and municipal taxes. On the employer's side, payment is normally made through the family compensation fund to which the company is affiliated: contributions are deducted from the wage bill and benefits are paid through the wage circuit. For an independent worker, the fund pays directly to the beneficiary, subject to registration and payment of contributions.

Cantonal comparison: why St. Gallen has

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Key points

Concrete procedure for claiming family allowances in St. Gallen

The application is submitted to the competent family compensation fund. For an employee, this is the fund to which the employer is affiliated; for a self-employed person, it is the fund where they are registered. The procedure can generally be started online through the fund's portal, or with a paper form, attaching the required documents: family status certificate, children's identity documents, any training certificate for adult children, and — for cross-border workers — proof of gainful employment in Switzerland and AVS (Swiss social security) contributions.

Operational steps

1. Identify the competent family compensation fund (employer or cantonal office for self-employed). 2. Fill in the official application form with personal data and that of the children. 3. Attach identification documents and any training certificates. 4. Submit the application to the fund and keep the receipt. 5. Wait for the acceptance notice and, if approved, the first payment via payslip (employees) or bank account (self-employed). 6. In case of significant changes in family or work situation, update the fund with the new documentation.

Useful tools on the site

The site provides calculation tools to help estimate net salary and deductions, as well as guides for filing income tax returns in Switzerland. For those experiencing a change in family or work situation, it is also worth reviewing their pension plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is entitled to family allowances in the canton of St. Gallen?: Employees who are subject to the AHV contribution obligation and self-employed persons registered with the competent funds, including so-called equivalent cross-border commuters who are gainfully employed in Switzerland and pay contributions, are entitled to it. Children must fall within the definition of a child under the FAA: children of one's own, of the spouse, children in foster care, orphans and, to a certain extent, cohabiting brothers and sisters. For children in education, the right is
How much is the family allowance due in St. Gallen?: The monthly amounts per child and per child in education are defined year by year by the cantonal legislation of St. Gallen, which may provide for differentiations according to the age of the child or the type of education, in compliance with the federal minimums of the LAFam. For the current value, it is necessary to consult the official website of the canton or the relevant family compensation office, as the exact figures are not specified in the source.
To which family compensation office should I submit the application?: For an employee, the competent fund is the one to which the employer is affiliated; for a self-employed person, it is the fund with which he or she is registered. The fund is designated by the cantonal office in charge of St. Gallen, which supervises the recognised family compensation offices. If you move to another canton or change employer, the competent fund changes and the application must be updated accordingly.
What documents do I need for the family allowance application?: The procedure is usually initiated online via the fund portal or on paper. The family status certificate, the children's identity document, any educational certificate for adult children and, for cross-border workers, proof of employment in Switzerland and AHV contributions must be attached. It is important to keep the receipt and update the fund in the event of significant changes in your family or employment situation.
How are family allowances financed in St. Gallen?: The financing is based on equal contributions from employers, calculated on the wage bill and managed by family compensation offices. The obligation to pay contributions has been extended to all employers since 2009, the year in which the FALA came into force, which harmonised the right to benefits at federal level, leaving the cantons free to provide for higher amounts or additional benefits.