What is the third pillar of the pension system?

The third pillar is voluntary private saving. It adds to the AHV and the pension fund.

Common mistakes

C: invalidity insurance

Invalidity insurance belongs to the first pillar, together with the AHV.

D: income compensation

Income compensation (EO) replaces wages, for example during military service or maternity. It is not a pillar of the pension system.

The three pillars

The pension system in Switzerland rests on three pillars. Each pillar has its own task. Together they are meant to ensure that you have enough money to live on in old age, in case of invalidity or after the death of a partner. This is also called the three-pillar system.

Living in Switzerland · Pension provision

Sources

• zh.ch
• ch.ch
• bsv.admin.ch

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.