A smooth transition to retirement will be possible from 2024. These and other changes will come into force in January. Other legislative changes do not affect insured persons directly, but are just as important.
New social security provisions will come into force at the beginning of 2024. In «Social Security CHSS», Mélanie Sauvain provides insured persons, employers and specialists with an overview of the upcoming changes (as at mid-November 2023).
AHV 21 reform enables a smooth transition to retirement
The reform to stabilize old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV 21) will enter into force in stages. From the beginning of 2024, insured persons will be able to make the transition from working life to retirement more fluid and flexible. They will be able to bring forward part of their old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV) and occupational benefits insurance and defer the other part.
In future, insured persons who remain in employment beyond the reference age of 65 will be free to decide whether they wish to pay contributions on their entire salary. Those who waive the monthly allowance of CHF 1'400 can close contribution gaps. Furthermore, the waiting period for entitlement to an AHV helplessness allowance will be reduced from one year to six months.
As part of the AHV reform, the standard VAT rate will be increased by 0.4 percentage points to 8.1%. The reduced rate (everyday consumer goods) and the special rate (accommodation) will rise by 0.1 percentage points to 2.6% and 3.8% respectively. The additional income generated by this - as well as the income from the demographic percentage - will go entirely to the AHV.
EL: The transition period ends
The transitional provisions for supplementary benefits (EL) under the reform that came into force in 2021 will expire in 2024. These provisions were aimed at people who were already receiving supplementary benefits and whose situation would have deteriorated because of the reform. For three years, the old (pre-2021) rules applied to those affected. The aim was to allow them to adjust their personal situation, particularly regarding to rent.
The requirements regarding assets or the waiver of assets now also apply to these persons. The asset limit introduced in 2021 (CHF 100'000 for single persons; CHF 200'000 for married couples) may, for example, mean that persons with assets more than these maximum amounts are no longer entitled to supplementary benefits. The value of owner-occupied properties is not considered.
Supervision is being modernized
As part of the «modernization of supervision», the implementing agencies for AHV, EL, EO and family allowances in agriculture will use modern risk and quality management tools and implement an internal control system from the beginning of 2024. Other objectives include strengthening governance and the appropriate management and supervision of information systems in the first pillar. To this end, the tasks and duties of the implementing bodies and the supervisory authority will be specified.
Supervision in the second pillar will also be optimized in certain areas. The adjustments are primarily aimed at the takeover of pensioner portfolios; in addition, the tasks of occupational pension experts will be specified.
BVG minimum interest rate to be increased
Finally, on the recommendation of the Federal Commission for Occupational Pension Provision, the Federal Council raised the minimum interest rate in the mandatory occupational pension scheme (BVG) by 0.25 percentage points to 1.25% at the beginning of 2024. The minimum rate determines the minimum interest rate that must be paid on the pension assets of insured persons in the BVG mandatory scheme. The increase is being made considering the rise in yields on Confederation bonds and the performance of shares, bonds and real estate.
The other adjustments in the area of social insurance can be found under this link.