The idea for social security in Switzerland – The Foundation of the Swiss Welfare State: Ready for a successful future.

We need a new social system because the current one is leading us into a dead end. It is not sustainably financed and creates the wrong incentives. The Lebensvorsorge is a social springboard that supports people in realising their potential.

What is Lebensvorsorge?

The Lebensvorsorge combines the existing social funds into a single unified system. Everyone who lives, works and has been paying taxes in Switzerland for some time contributes to the Lebensvorsorge. In turn, it ensures everybody is protected, from childhood to retirement.

Without requiring additional funds: children receive CHF 700. For adults, the amount grows with age, from CHF 1,000 to CHF 2,450 for seniors — but this only supplements low incomes. Those who earn enough receive no additional money.

The Lebensvorsorge helps in a targeted way where a person is in financial difficulty. The principle is: every job pays off and generates additional income — the Lebensvorsorge serves as a springboard into employment.

Where does the money for retirement savings come from?

On the one hand, funding is based on the pay-as-you-go system currently in place. The retirement plan utilizes funds freed up from AHV, social assistance, IV (basic benefits), family allowances, individual premium reductions, etc. This results in approximately CHF 70 billion per year, which continues to be used to support individuals with no or low income. To finance this, the current payroll contributions (AHV/IV/EO, etc.) are therefore retained.
For individuals earning above a certain threshold, the additional income taxes are offset by the life savings payments, resulting in a net-zero effect. For those with low wages or no income at all, the life savings system leads to more money in their wallets.

The Lebensvorsorge therefore offers less complexity and greater impact.

Why do we need the Lebensvorsorge?

Our social insurance system is outdated, confusing and inefficient. It creates the wrong incentives. It no longer fits social change (modern family structures, longer lives) or the challenges of the working world (AI, robotics, new employment models).

The system is in a dead end. Our society needs a simple, fair and sustainable model for a successful future.

What do we want to achieve?

A plus for families. The Lebensvorsorge concretely strengthens families — financially, structurally and socially. It makes Switzerland more attractive as a family-friendly country and enables everyone to be more effective.

Work pays off again. Those who work should have more. The Lebensvorsorge sets clear incentives and rewards personal responsibility — fairly and motivatingly.

Less complexity, more impact. The Lebensvorsorge replaces an expensive apparatus of social welfare institutions with a simple, unbureaucratic system.

The Lebensvorsorge activates people's potential and frees them from paternalism, unproductive paperwork and the wrong incentives in the current social welfare system.

Download a brief introduction here

About Us

"Problems shouldn't slow us down.
With Swiss retirement planning, we’re showcasing new opportunities and solutions for people in Switzerland.”

Marina Meister
ETH mathematician, project manager,
Board member, entrepreneur

«In the great changes of our time, I see many opportunities — the Lebensvorsorge is a concrete idea that creates more cohesion and prospects for our society in Switzerland.»

Daniel Straub
Business Economist, Psychologist, Master’s in International Policy Studies, Co-initiator of the Unconditional Basic Income initiative, Entrepreneur

«The Lebensvorsorge Schweiz is an innovative concept for reforming the welfare state, committed both to the goal of social security and to improving work incentives, while being financially feasible. It is worth pursuing this direction of thinking.»

Prof. Dr. Ernst FehrProfessor at the Department of Economics at the University of Zurich

«Achieving great things through effort, even when the starting position is difficult. Accepting help from others to overcome weaknesses. That is what I had to learn. The «Lebensvorsorge» enables exactly this. A proposal we should continue to pursue.»

Heinz FreiParalympic athlete

"In this age of automation and uncertainty, it’s nearly impossible to reinvent yourself on your own. According to ‘Lebensvorsorge,’ the social system of tomorrow should not be a hammock but a springboard that enables everyone to remain relevant and, above all, to be active and contribute value to society."

Isabelle ChappuisMember of the National Council for the Canton of Vaud

«We can shape the future. The Lebensvorsorge is a concrete idea for doing so — it is the opportunity for a new social contract. A contribution to reducing polarisation. And a step towards genuine intergenerational justice!»

Gerhard PfisterMember of the National Council, former President of “Die Mitte”

«Social protection for all must be reformed for the future. The Lebensvorsorge is a vision that drives this movement forward and gives rise to revolutionary ideas.»

Yvonne FeriPresident of the Syna Trade Union, former National Council member

«The Lebensvorsorge Schweiz seriously targets some of our biggest problems. It is far more precise and realistic than an unconditional basic income.»

Prof. Dr. Reiner EichenbergerProfessor of Financial and Economic Policy Theory at the University of Fribourg

«The working society of the 21st century needs concrete utopias that break the compulsive link between work and income. But it also needs realistic models — like the one proposed here. Too realistic, too well thought-out to be dismissed as a utopia!»

Prof. Emeritus Dr. Theo WehnerETH Zurich

«It is crucial that state support is needs-based and holistically aligned. The Lebensvorsorge Schweiz presents a well-thought-out concept for a comprehensive renewal of the social insurance system.»

Xenia VoellmyYoung glp, Vice President of glp Zurich 7 & 8

«The social welfare systems have grown historically. Demographics, globalisation and changing lifestyles raise new questions. It is very welcome that the Lebensvorsorge analyses these challenges holistically, thereby creating a basis for discussion.»

Zeno StaubPresident of the Working Group on Economy & Society, former CEO of Bank Vontobel

«Our social insurance system consists of many historically grown individual parts. Rethinking the system as a whole is bold, but necessary.»

Vera KupperPresident of the Occupational Pension Supervisory Commission (OAK BV)

«The need to reform our social system is obvious. Above all, we young people must have the courage to rethink the social contract. The Lebensvorsorge is a realistic and concrete approach. The goal must remain the same: a system that leaves no one behind.»

Marc RüdisüliMember of the Executive Committee of “Die Mitte”

«The current and future challenges require a stronger intervention, which first requires a change in mindset. The Lebensvorsorge is one of the important impulses to keep Switzerland on the path to success.»

Bettina SchallerAdecco - Head of Group Public Affairs

«Solidarity is not a complicated matter. We owe it to the vulnerable in society, without ifs or buts. The Lebensvorsorge Schweiz takes this seriously and leads us to rethink the welfare state.»

Klaus WellershoffEconomist and entrepreneur

The entire community

Questions and Answers

Why do we need the Lebensvorsorge?

We need a new social security system, because the current one is leading us down a dead-end path. It is not financially sustainable and creates the wrong incentives. With AI and robotics, major upheavals in the world of work are also on the horizon, which further increases the necessity and urgency of finding a viable social security system.
Furthermore, today’s social security system is complex, confusing, and bureaucratic. With life-based social security, it becomes much simpler and more transparent. Benefits are paid out automatically and allocated according to need. Life-based social security is a social springboard that supports people—rather than patronizing them—in realizing their full potential.

What amounts are used in the Lebensvorsorge?

The calculations of expenditures and revenues for the Life Provision model are based on the Ecoplan study and corresponding data from 2021. They show that the Life Provision model is financially self-sustaining. Ultimately, however, the amounts and mechanisms will have to be negotiated at the political level; the figures presented here are merely a rough guide for the Life Provision model.

Payments under the retirement plan – the following illustrative amounts are paid as monthly retirement plan payments:

Children receive CHF 700
People aged 18 to 21 will receive CHF 1,000
For people aged 22 to 41, the monthly amount increases by CHF 50 for each year of age (e.g., to CHF 1,400 for a 29-year-old)
However, the primary caregiver of children generally receives CHF 2,000
People aged 41 to 65 will receive CHF 2,000
For people aged 66 to 74, the monthly amount increases by CHF 50 for each year of age (e.g., to CHF 2,150 for a 68-year-old)
For individuals aged 74 and older: CHF 2,450

The plan is that adults who have not paid contributions for several years would be required to participate in a job placement program or
perform community service (similar to the current civilian service).

Contributions to retirement savings:
Contributions to retirement savings amount to 40% of gross salary, up to a maximum of CHF 2,000 per month,
while the current employee contributions of approximately 5% paid to the AHV/IV/EO, as well as the associated
employer contributions, remain in effect.

Who receives payments?

In general, all individuals in Switzerland who have made contributions to the system—or to their social security account—for several years are eligible to receive retirement benefits. However, due to the nature of the contributions, only individuals with low or no net income will receive an additional payment from the retirement plan (see also the FAQ question “What amounts are used to calculate retirement benefits?”).

All FAQs