The underestimated bill: non-employed contributions
Contribution duty until the individual reference age – early retirees included.
The definition
Who counts as non-employed?
< 9 monthsof employment per year
< 50 %or less than half-time work
TypicalEarly retirees, sabbaticals, studies from 20
The calculation
Wealth replaces salary
CHF 530Minimum contribution per year
CHF 26,500Maximum contribution per year
FormulaWealth + pension income × 20
The exception
Exemption via your spouse
✓Your spouse is gainfully employed
✓They pay at least double the minimum contribution (CHF 1,060/year)
→Then you are exempt from these contributions
Warning
Not paying means cutting your pension
Non-payment = contribution gap = lifelong pension cut. Register proactively with the compensation office when retiring early – otherwise the bill comes later, and the gap remains.
Good to know
Put it in the budget
💡 These contributions belong in every early-retirement plan. With substantial wealth, expect several thousand francs a year – until the reference age.