AHV contribution gap
A year without the required AHV contributions, which reduces your pension by about 1/44 for life.
Gaps often come from studies abroad, career breaks or early retirement without paying non-employed contributions. Contributions can usually be paid for the last five years only.
Tools that use it
Related terms
- AHV (old-age and survivors’ insurance)The first pillar of the Swiss pension system, paying a pension from the reference age based on income and contribution years.
- AHV contributions for non-employed peopleAHV contributions paid by people without (enough) work income, based on wealth and pension income.
- Compensation office (Ausgleichskasse)The office that collects AHV contributions and pays pensions.
Read more

Swiss pensions
AHV when you stop early: how to avoid gaps in your pension
Stop working at 45 and your AHV pension can shrink for life. How contribution years work, what non-employed people pay and how to close the gap.