Retirement Age for Women in Switzerland under AHV 21

In short: The reference age for women has been rising since 1 January 2025 in four steps of three months each, from 64 to 65. The 1961 to 1963 cohorts are affected; from the 1964 cohort it is 65 across the board. For the 1961 to 1969 cohorts, two compensatory measures cushion the increase. Only one of the two applies in any given case.

Since the AHV 21 reform, the retirement age for women in Switzerland is called the reference age. It marks the point at which the old-age pension falls due without any reduction or supplement. Drawing it earlier is early withdrawal, drawing it later is deferral. The reform aligned this age for women and men at 65.

Key facts

• The reference age for women has been rising since 1 January 2025 in three-month steps; from the 1964 cohort it stands at 65 (source: BSV, leaflet 3.1, position as of 1 January 2025).
• The transitional generation comprises women born from 1961 up to and including 1969 (source: BSV, leaflet 3.1).
• With a full contribution period, the pension supplement ranges from 12.50 to 160 francs per month (source: BSV, leaflet 3.1).
• The 1961 to 1969 cohorts can still draw the pension from 62; from the 1970 cohort early withdrawal starts at 63 (source: BSV, leaflet 3.1).

Which reference age applies to which cohort?

The reference age does not rise in one move but in four steps of three months each, beginning on 1 January 2025. The 1960 cohort is not yet affected. From the start of 2028 the reference age of 65 applies to all women.

Source: Federal Social Insurance Office, leaflet 3.1 Stabilisation of the OASI (OASI 21), position as of 1 January 2025.

Who belongs to the transitional generation?

The transitional generation comprises women born from 1961 up to and including 1969. The term therefore covers more cohorts than the increase itself, which affects only the years 1961 to 1963. The reason lies in the compensatory measures: they apply to all nine cohorts.

What are the two compensatory measures?

Raising the reference age affects women close to retirement more than younger cohorts. The reform therefore provides two compensatory measures. Which one applies depends solely on whether the old-age pension is drawn early. Both apply for life.

A smaller reduction on early withdrawal

Anyone drawing the old-age pension before the reference age receives it reduced, because it is paid out for longer. For the 1961 to 1969 cohorts this reduction is smaller than under the standard rule, and permanently so. The lower the average income before retirement, the smaller the reduction.

These cohorts can still draw the old-age pension from 62. From the 1970 cohort the same rule then applies as for men: early withdrawal from 63 at the earliest, with the standard reduction.

A lifelong pension supplement

Women who do not draw the pension early receive a supplement instead. It is graded by year of birth and, with a full contribution period, ranges from 12.50 to 160 francs per month. It is larger for lower incomes than for higher ones. Where contribution gaps exist, the supplement is reduced accordingly.

Two points are easy to miss. For married women the supplement is not subject to the ceiling, so it comes on top of the capped pension. And it cannot cause an entitlement to supplementary benefits to be lost or reduced.

How large is the supplement or reduction in an individual case?

The amount of an old-age pension depends on many individual factors, above all the contribution period and the average income. Childcare and care credits are added to this. The BSV provides an online tool for calculating the supplement and the reduction rate individually.

What does this mean for the second and third pillars?

The AHV reference age is not necessarily the pension fund’s retirement age. What governs there is the regulations of the pension institution. Drawing from Pillar 3a follows its own rules as well. Drawing the AHV early does not automatically shift the benefits from the other two pillars.

More on the withdrawal windows and on the effect of early withdrawal and deferral is set out in the article on the retirement age in Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions on the retirement age for women

When can a woman retire in Switzerland?

That depends on the year of birth. For the 1960 cohort the reference age remains 64. From the 1961 cohort it rises in three-month steps: 1961 to 64 years and three months, 1962 to 64 and six months, 1963 to 64 and nine months. From the 1964 cohort it stands at 65.

Who belongs to the transitional generation?

The transitional generation comprises women born from 1961 up to and including 1969. Two compensatory measures cushion the increase in the reference age for them. Both apply for life, and only one of them applies in any case: either the smaller reduction on early withdrawal or the pension supplement.

How large is the pension supplement for the transitional generation?

With a full contribution period it ranges from 12.50 to 160 francs per month. It is graded by year of birth and is larger for lower incomes than for higher ones. Contribution gaps reduce it accordingly. Only women who do not draw the pension early receive the supplement.

From what age can women draw the pension early?

The 1961 to 1969 cohorts can still draw the old-age pension from 62, and their pension is reduced less than under the standard rule. From the 1970 cohort the same rule applies as for men: early withdrawal from 63 at the earliest, with the standard reduction.

Is the pension supplement subject to the ceiling for married couples?

No. For married women the pension supplement is paid on top of the capped pension. Nor can it cause an entitlement to supplementary benefits to be lost or reduced.