Uncovered benefits: Helplessness allowance & assistance contribution
In this, the following and the most recently published blog post ‘Overview & supplementary benefits’, we take a closer look at your options for financing uncovered benefits. After a basic overview and the supplementary benefits in detail, in this blog post we explain the helplessness allowance in more detail and briefly introduce the assistance contribution as a further financing tool.
Helplessness allowance
What exactly is a helplessness allowance?
Similar to supplementary benefits, helplessness allowances are also financial contributions paid by stately institutions such as the Federal Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV) or Disability Insurance (IV), the compulsory accident insurance (UVG) or the military insurance (MV). As the helplessness allowances from the UVG and the MV are only relevant for very specific cases and readers, for the sake of simplicity this blog post only deals with the helplessness allowance from the AHV/IV.
If you are not sure which helplessness allowance you are entitled to, you are very welcome to take advantage of our free initial consultation. We will clarify your exact entitlements together with you:
There is also a legal entitlement to the AHV/IV helplessness allowance under the conditions listed below. In contrast to supplementary benefits, however, the helplessness allowance is paid independently of income and assets and in addition to the AHV or IV pension. The helplessness allowance is intended for people with a health impairment, whether physical or mental, who are dependent on support from third parties or corresponding organizations for everyday living activities. These activities of daily living include, for example
- personal hygiene
- food preparation & intake
- dressing & undressing
- getting up & going to bed
- sitting down & getting up
- going to the toilet
- but also maintaining social contacts etc.
The amount of the helplessness allowance depends on the degree of the health impairment.
degree of health impairment.
Who is entitled to a helplessness allowance and when?
The following conditions must be met for a legal entitlement:
- there is an uninterrupted severe, moderate or slight helplessness that has been proven for at least one year
- the person concerned is resident in Switzerland
- the person concerned receives an AHV or IV pension
- the person concerned is not entitled to a helplessness allowance from the compulsory accident insurance or military insurance
- they are unable to live alone without care
- they are unable to carry out activities outside the home unaccompanied
- there is a risk that they will become increasingly isolated from the outside world
Who is not entitled to a helplessness allowance?
The following are not entitled to the AHV/IV helplessness allowance:
- People residing outside Switzerland
- People who already receive a helplessness allowance from the compulsory UVG or the MV
What benefits does the helplessness allowance provide?
The helplessness allowance is a lump sum that is based on the degree of helplessness and, in the case of an IV pension, on the place of residence (at home or in a home for at least 15 days a month). Income and assets are irrelevant.
If you receive a disability insurance pension, the following benefits are paid:
| Degree of helplessness | in a home (CHF per month) | at home (CHF per month) |
| mild degree | 126.- | 504.- |
| Medium degree | 315.- | 1'260.- |
| severe degree | 504.- | 2'016.- |
Status: as of 01.01.2025
The following benefits are paid when drawing an old-age and survivors' insurance pension:
| Degree of helplessness | Benefit in CHF per month |
| mild degree | 252.- |
| Medium degree | 630.- |
| severe degree | 1008.- |
Status: as of 01.01.2025
Important: You are only entitled to helplessness allowance of minor degree if you live at home. If the person concerned receives a helplessness allowance from the IV before reaching retirement age, this helplessness allowance will be paid out in the same amount by the AHV from retirement age.
How and where is the helplessness allowance applied for?
If you meet the one-year deadline, you can simply fill in the appropriate application form electronically here or download it for printing:
- AHV helplessness allowance
- IV helplessness allowance for adults
- IV helplessness allowance for minors
For non-electronic submission in paper form or if you have any questions, you must contact the IV office in your canton of residence directly.
Important: The helplessness allowance is paid for a maximum of 12 months prior to the start of your entitlement. You should therefore register for the helplessness allowance no later than 12 months after the start of your entitlement so that you receive your allowance for the entire period of your entitlement in accordance with the one-year deadline.
Assistance contribution
People who receive a helplessness allowance and (would like to) live at home can also apply for an assistance contribution. This contribution enables a person to be employed to provide the necessary assistance. This is intended to promote and ensure the self-determination and personal responsibility of those affected. Here too, the application can be made either simply and directly electronically or in paper form at the relevant IV office in the canton of residence:
The helplessness allowance guarantees people with a health impairment who are dependent on support from third parties a self-determined everyday life worth living. As already mentioned in previous blog posts, a large proportion of care is provided by relatives, without whom the need would otherwise not be covered. To ensure that this loving and self-sacrificing support does not end in financial ruin, there is also state support for relatives in the form of care credits and compensation for loss of earnings. We will present these two financial tools in more detail in the next blog post.
We will be happy to answer any questions you may have!
In our free and non-binding initial consultation, we will work with you to clarify your individual situation and the options for professional, friendly and affordable care for you or your relatives. We will also be happy to help you overcome the bureaucratic hurdles -just get in touch with us:
