What is an AHV deferral?

An AHV deferral is a way of postponing the pension from the old-age and survivors’ insurance (AHV) in order to receive a higher pension. This is done by delaying the pension by a certain percentage per month, the so-called deferral supplement. The AHV deferral supplement follows a staggered system: for a deferral of one year, the supplement is 5.2% of the AHV pension. The supplement increases with the duration of the deferral, e.g. 10.8% for two years, 17.1% for three years, up to a maximum of 31.5% for five years. The person entitled to a pension does not receive a pension for the duration of the deferral.

It is important to note that AHV deferral is only possible up to the age of 70 and that the pension is fixed for the rest of the person’s life from the time of deferral. It is therefore not possible to adjust the pension at a later date. The Swiss compensation offices provide an online calculator to estimate the pension: www.ahv-iv.ch/r/escal

The AHV deferral is an individual decision and there is no obligation to make use of it. It is important to carefully consider your own financial situation and, if necessary, seek professional advice before deciding in favour of an AHV deferral.