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Find out all about Family placements in Switzerland for residents and workers and find out if you are eligible for the benefit.
If you live or work in Switzerland — whether resident, frontline worker or self-employed — you know that family allocations (child support) is an important financial support.
However, the amounts, who is entitled to them and how to receive them vary greatly depending on where you live and who is employed.
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In this complete guide, you will understand Who is eligible, how much you receive, how to apply and the differences between cantons — all in a simple and practical way.
What are family allocations in Switzerland?
Family allowances (or “allocations familiales”) are benefits provided by law to compensate for expenses related to children.
They include:
- Allocation by child until the age of 16
- Allocation of vocational training (from 16 to 25 years old, or up to 20 if the child is disabled)
- Birth or adoption allocation, eventually offered by the cantons (bsv.admin.ch, fr.wikipedia.org)
This system unifies basic criteria in the country, however exact amount varies depending on the canton of work (eak.admin.ch).
Who is entitled?
These allocations are intended for people who:
- They work as wage earners (with a minimum income of CHF 7,560 per year) (bsv.admin.ch)
- They are independent (entrepreneurs, freelancers)
- They don't work, but they have low income (bsv.admin.ch)
- Agricultural workers (according to specific rules)
If you are unemployed, you may be entitled to a supplement paid by unemployment insurance — but only if you receive benefits.
How much do you receive per child?
Minimum values defined by law (LAFam)
- Allocation per child (up to 16 years): normally CHF 215–200 per month (bsv.admin.ch)
- Training allocation (16–25 years): at least CHF 268–250 per month (bsv.admin.ch)
- Birth or adoption allocation: depends on the canton, values and existence vary (bsv.admin.ch)
Differences by canton
Some cantons only follow the minimums; others pay more:
- Equivalents to federal law (e.g. Zurich, Ticino, Basel) (fr.wikipedia.org, work-in-suisse.ch)
- Higher values in Bern, Geneva, Vaud, Valais and others (bebe-arrive.ch)
For example:
- Geneva: CHF 300 per child + training CHF 400, and even CHF 2,000 upon arrival of baby
- Vaud and Valais also have similar extra values (bebe-arrive.ch)
In short, it is always worth checking the rules of your work canton.
How and when to apply
Who receives via employer
If you are an employee, the boss makes the request with the compensation fund and paid together with the salary.
If you are self-employed or unemployed
You request directly to the compensation fund from your canton of residence (bebe-arrive.ch).
Important deadlines and rules
- The right arises with the beginning of work (or minimum income) and ends with the end of the right to salary (weka.ch)
- In case of illness or accident, allocations continue for up to 3 months after (weka.ch)
- During maternity/paternity births in foreseeable cases, they are also maintained for up to 16 weeks (bsv.admin.ch)
- Payments are monthly and prorated, based on a 30-day month.
Special rules
- Only one beneficiary per child — if both parents are entitled, priority is given to those who live/work in the child's canton or who earn more (cleiss.fr)
- In case of divorce, whoever lives with the child prevails
- If the allocations are higher in the canton where the father works, he may receive the difference (cleiss.fr)
In summary
| Situation | Action | How to receive |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | Asks the employer | Included in the sheet |
| Independent / no income | Requests to the cantonal fund | Direct deposit |
| Unemployed | Request supplement to insurance | Unemployment supplement |
Why are these allocations important?
- Real financial support: at CHF 200–300 per child/month, this is a significant help
- Federal standardization + local adjustment: guarantees a minimum and allows additional cantonal
- Social inclusion: benefits self-employed parents, unemployed (with conditions) and mothers/fathers on leave
Conclusion
To the family allocations in Switzerland are an important pillar of support for families and are provided for by federal law, but vary by canton.
All parents — whether employed, outsourced, self-employed or low-income — are entitled to these benefits.
Furthermore, it is easy to apply for and very useful for those who live with the costs of raising children in this country.
If you want, I can put one together canton by canton guide or a Comparative PDF with values, for you to share with friends or publish on social media.
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