Published 8 November 2026 3 min read

13th AHV pension: first payment in early December for 2.6 million pensioners

The 13th old-age pension will be paid for the first time in early December 2026, as a supplement to the December pension, the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) specified on 3 November. It concerns some 2.6 million recipients and will cost 4.1 billion francs this year. In Switzerland, nearly one resident in five is aged 65 or over (19.8 %), according to Federal Statistical Office (FSO) data compiled by Civiora.

One twelfth of the year’s pensions, paid automatically

The 13th pension equals one twelfth of the monthly old-age pensions paid during the year, rounded to the franc, according to the FSIO. It is paid automatically, with no application, to anyone entitled to an old-age pension in December. A person receiving the maximum pension of 2’520 francs a month all year therefore gets 2’520 francs more; for a married couple, the supplement can reach 3’780 francs. Child pensions and supplementary pensions are not included in the calculation.

The amount follows the pensions actually paid during the year. The FSIO gives the example of a person who receives the maximum pension from July to December 2026: their 13th pension comes to 1’260 francs, six twelfths of 2’520 francs. For a partial pension of 1’540 francs a month paid all year, the 13th pension also comes to 1’540 francs.

Who receives it, and who does not

After this first payment, the 13th pension will be paid every year in December. Survivors’ pensions paid to widows, widowers and orphans, as well as disability insurance pensions, are still paid twelve times a year. Swiss citizens receive the 13th pension whatever their country of residence; for other nationalities, the export of pensions depends on the agreements concluded. The 13th pension does not reduce supplementary benefits: it is excluded from the income counted in their calculation.

Where people aged 65 and over live

At the end of 2025, Switzerland had about 1.81 million residents aged 65 or over, or 19.8 % of the permanent resident population, according to Civiora’s calculation from FSO data. In the median municipality the share is 20.9 %; it exceeds 25 % in 408 municipalities and 30 % in 95. These figures describe residents aged 65 and over, not exactly AHV recipients, some of whom live abroad.

Municipality	Residents (2025)	Aged 65 and over (%)
Brissago	1’577	40.4
Mont-Noble	1’188	36.8
Muralto	2’513	36.2
Val Müstair	1’427	36.1
Sigriswil	4’943	35.4
Goms	1’163	35.0
Ascona	5’290	34.9
Centovalli	1’049	34.5
Oberhofen am Thunersee	2’553	34.2
Lumnezia	2’056	33.9

Among municipalities with more than 1’000 residents, the highest shares are found on the shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Thun, and in valleys of Graubünden, Valais and Ticino. The large cities are younger: 14.3 % in Zürich, 14.5 % in Lausanne and 16.0 % in Geneva, against 23.1 % in Lugano. By canton, the share ranges from 16.7 % in the canton of Geneva to 24.3 % in the canton of Ticino.

What the 29 November vote changes, and what it does not

The December 2026 payment does not depend on the 29 November vote. The people and the cantons will then decide on a 0.4-point VAT increase that would finance part of the 13th pension from 2028 at the earliest; in 2026 and 2027 it has no additional financing. According to the FSIO, the 13th pension will cost 4.1 billion francs in 2026, of which some 800 million is borne by the Confederation.

In short

2.6 million: recipients of an old-age pension will receive the 13th pension in December 2026
19.8 %: of Switzerland’s residents were aged 65 or over at the end of 2025 (FSO, Civiora calculation)
95: municipalities where at least 30 % of residents are 65 or over, according to Civiora’s calculation