AHV Contribution Gaps: How to Find and Close Them
Why missing years reduce your pension, how to check your account and when you can still pay back.
5 min read · Retirement & Pensions
A full AHV pension needs a complete contribution record. Each missing year lowers your pension for life, by roughly one forty-fourth of the full amount.
How gaps arise
- Years abroad without voluntary insurance.
- Studying or living without income and without paying the minimum contribution.
- Arriving in Switzerland after age 20.
- Non-working spouses whose contributions were not covered.
Example with default values. Open the calculator →
Check your account
Order an extract of your individual account (Kontoauszug) from any compensation office. It lists every year and employer. Check it at least ten years before retirement, because corrections are easier while records and proofs still exist.
Closing gaps
Contributions for missing years can usually be paid back only for the last five years. Voluntary AHV insurance abroad is possible under conditions and deadlines. Child-raising and care credits may fill some years automatically, so do not pay for years that are already credited.
See what a gap costs with the AHV pension estimate.