What is the difference between a full pension and a maximum pension?

A full pension is paid to anyone who has 44 years of contributions without any gaps, i.e. who has fulfilled their contribution obligations from the age of 21 to 65. The amount of the full pension depends on average income: lower earnings → lower pension, higher earnings → higher pension.

The full pension may therefore be lower than the maximum pension if earnings were lower.

Example for 2026:
Depending on income, the full pension can range from CHF 1,260 (minimum pension) to CHF 2,520 (maximum pension) per month.

The maximum pension is the highest possible AHV pension. The requirements are 44 years of contributions, as with the full pension, and an average annual income of at least CHF 90,720 during the contribution years.

The maximum pension for a single person in 2026 is CHF 2,520 per month. With the new 13th AHV pension from 2026, this amounts to CHF 32,760 per year.