Since 2013, the self-employed throughout Switzerland have also been entitled to the nationally determined minimum amounts payable as family allowances. At the same time, this means that such persons are compulsorily subject to the “Family Allowances Act” (FAA) – including the funding of the allowances.
The revision of the Act is aimed at creating a unified system of family allowances for employees, the self-employed and persons not gainfully employed. The FAA that was in force until the end of 2012 applied only to employees and persons not gainfully employed. At that time, the self-employed already received family allowances in 13 cantons under cantonal regulations (BE, LU, SZ, NW, GL, BL, BS, SH, AR, SG, VD, VS and GE); in certain cantons, entitlement was also based on income.
Until the revised law entered into force, all self-employed persons were required to be registered with a Family Allowances Office and from 1 January 2013 onwards they were obliged to pay contributions on their earned income qualifying for OASI (capped at the highest earnings insured under the AIA). In respect of family allowances, the same contribution rates always apply to the self-employed as to the non-self-employed (employees).
Since then, the self-employed have been entitled to the same family allowances as employees: at least CHF 200 (child allowances) or CHF 250 (education and training allowances) per child per month. In some cantons the allowances are higher and birth and adoption allowances are also paid. The stated minimum rates apply from 2013 until further notice.
Since the “Familienausgleichskasse Zürcher Arbeitgeber” [Family Allowances Office for Employers in Zurich] (FZA) is recognized and active in all the cantons, all self-employed persons can join it if they pay their personal OASI contributions via our “Ausgleichskasse Zürcher Arbeitgeber” [Compensation Office for Employers in Zurich] (AZA). As required by statute, a basic principle is applied which states that the self-employed persons registered with the AZA are automatically registered with the FZA, i.e. without having to do anything; this is subject to any cantonal provisions to the contrary. Persons who decide for themselves that they wish to register with a different Family Allowances Office are asked to inform us accordingly.
More information on the revision of the FAA and its implementation.
Source: FSIO, Family Affairs department.