{"id":7923,"date":"2026-02-17T14:09:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/invexa.ch\/?p=7923"},"modified":"2026-03-20T10:56:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T10:56:45","slug":"incapacite-de-gain-etes-vous-bien-protege","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/invexa.ch\/en\/pension\/loss-of-earning-capacity-are-you-well-protected\/","title":{"rendered":"Loss of Earning Capacity: Are You Well Protected?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A reality far more common than we think<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We prefer not to think about it, but loss of earning capacity is a real risk for anyone who is employed in Switzerland. In 2024, federal disability insurance (AI)<\/strong> paid benefits to around 461,000 people<\/strong>, with total expenditures reaching CHF 10.46 billion.<\/p>

Among them, 254,000 received a disability pension, of whom 227,300 were living in Switzerland.
In other words: 6 out of every 100 insured persons living<\/strong> in Switzerland received at least one AI benefit during the year. This figure may seem abstract, but when applied to your close circle (family, colleagues, friends), it takes on a very different meaning.<\/p>

And the trend is rising. The number of new disability pensions has increased<\/strong> across all age groups, with particularly sharp growth among 18\u201324-year-olds and 60\u201364-year-olds. However, policyholders aged 55 to 63\/64 remain the most affected group.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Illness is the leading cause and is often underestimated<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When loss of earning capacity is mentioned, people often think of a serious accident<\/strong>. Yet this is a common misconception: 9 out of 10 cases<\/strong> are caused by illness<\/strong>, not by an accident. This figure is crucial, as the protections provided by the Swiss system are not the same depending on the cause.<\/p>

In the event of an accident, compulsory social insurance covers up to 90 % of your previous income<\/strong>, which represents relatively solid protection.<\/p>

In the event of illness, on the other hand, the combination of 1st pillar (AHV\/IV)<\/a> and 2nd pillar (BVG)<\/a> now covers only about 60% of your income<\/strong>. A substantial shortfall that can quickly become a problem, especially if you have high fixed expenses: rent or mortgage, leasing, health insurance premiums, or childcare costs.<\/p>

And that's not all: earning disability doesn't just mean loss of income. It can also generate new costs<\/strong>These include adapted transport, home help and childcare, all of which exacerbate an already fragile situation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mental health, a risk too often ignored<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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One of the most striking developments in recent years concerns the origin of disability. In 2024, 1 in 2 disability pensioners<\/strong> was suffering from a mental illness. Depression, anxiety disorders and burnouts are now among the leading causes of disability in Switzerland.<\/p>

The figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office speak for themselves: 9 % of Swiss population<\/strong> is currently suffering from depression<\/strong>, and 17 % will experience a depressive disorder at least once in their lives. Depression or any other medically-recognized mental illness is indeed considered to be a \"mental illness\". earning incapacity<\/strong>, which entitles you to the same benefits as a physical pathology.<\/p>

It would therefore be dangerous to consider earning incapacity as a purely \u00abphysical\u00bb risk. The psychological risk is real, documented and in increase<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What the Swiss system actually pays<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Swiss system is based on three pillars<\/a>. However, in the event of incapacity for work due to illness, the first two pillars have important limitations that you need to be aware of.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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