Improved risk benefits starting in 2027
As of 1 January 2027, PUBLICA is moving to a hybrid pension model, whereby we will calculate death and disability risk benefits solely on the basis of the insured salary, while retirement benefits will continue to be calculated based on retirement assets. In general, this will provide active members with identical or higher risk benefits compared with the current situation.
The benefits PUBLICA provides are central to ensuring that active members can maintain their accustomed standard of living once they retire. We also insure our active members and their families financially in case they become unable to work, and in the event of death.
Under the hybrid pension model, we will employ two different systems.
The Confederation, ETH Domain, FINMA, IPI, METAS, PUBLICA (office), FAOA, SNM and Swissmedic pension plans have already decided to adopt the hybrid model.
The Affiliated Organisations pension plan has been operating the hybrid pension model for some time.
The ENSI pension plan will decide in autumn 2026 whether to follow suit.
Before retirement: defined-benefit model for disability and survivors’ pensions
From 1 January 2027, death and disability benefits will be calculated on a defined-benefit basis. Disability and survivors’ pensions will be calculated solely on the basis of the insured salary.
This means that risk benefits will then depend entirely on your current insured salary, and not on the amounts paid in and on interest. As a result, they will adjust immediately to reflect your current situation: if your salary changes, so too will the level of your risk benefits.
A full disability pension is always 60% of the insured salary. Survivors’ benefits in the event of death are always 40% of the insured salary. These benefits are financed by the risk contribution.
We pay the disability pension up to reference age. After that, we convert the carried-over retirement assets into a retirement pension which is calculated on a defined-contribution basis. This may mean that the level of the pension falls when switching from a disability pension to a retirement pension on reaching the reference age.
An active member’s retirement assets may be higher than the costs of a survivor’s pension. The survivors will continue to receive the difference as a lump-sum death benefit.
What is the insured salary?
The insured salary is the annual salary less the coordination offset. At PUBLICA, the deduction is 30% of the annual salary for salaries up to CHF 88,200 and a flat rate of CHF 26,460 for amounts in excess of this (lower threshold under the OPA). The coordination amount takes account of the fact that part of the income is already insured under pillar 1 (old age and survivors’ insurance, disability insurance).
For members of the Confederation pension plan who are paid through fees, the defined-contribution model still applies to death and disability risk benefits.
From the time of retirement: defined-contribution model for retirement pensions
For retirement pensions, we continue to work on a defined-contribution basis. We use the retirement assets to calculate the benefits on retirement. Assets you have brought with you from previous employers, your pension plan type, any early withdrawals for home ownership, your buy-ins and voluntary savings contributions all influence your individual retirement assets. PUBLICA uses the conversion rate to convert those assets into an annuity.
Hybrid pension model from 1 January 2027: what remains the same, what changes?
Retirement benefits (annuity or lump sum)
Risk benefits (disability or survivor’s pension)
Survivors’ and disability pensions originating during 2026 will continue to be calculated on a defined-contribution basis, in other words depending on the projected retirement assets. This means the retirement assets that PUBLICA calculates for the time of your retirement on the basis of your insured salary, savings contributions and interest.
The precise timing of a buy-in is only relevant if you die or become disabled during 2026.
What about early withdrawals to finance home ownership? Early withdrawals and repayments for this purpose do not affect defined-benefit disability benefits (those paid from 1 January 2027 onwards), but they will impact your later retirement pension.
Pensions that are already being paid will remain unchanged
The introduction of the hybrid pension model has no effect on disability or survivors’ pensions that are already being paid. The new rules apply to deaths and disability cases from 1 January 2027 onwards.
2027 change enabled by the revised Federal Personnel Act
The revised Federal Personnel Act allows risk benefits to be offered on a defined-benefit basis from 1 January 2027. This was something the law had not previously permitted. We are taking advantage of this new opportunity to insure our active members better against the financial impact of death and disability.
myPublica: simulations still using the existing regulations
In the myPublica active member portal, you can simulate the effect of buy-ins and voluntary savings contributions, or create a pension certificate showing your risk benefits.
The data and simulation results will still be based on the regulations that apply until the end of 2026. The new benefits will be visible from 2027.