How are you insured if you become unemployed?

In short

The unemployment insurance fund pays you 70 or 80 percent of your insured salary. You stay insured against accident, death and disability, but you save nothing for old age during this time.

As of 2 October 2026 · AVIG · Sources arbeit.swiss, suva.ch, faq.bsv.admin.ch and 2 more

CalculatorWith your numbers

How much do you get from the unemployment fund?

The benefit depends on your previous salary and on whether you support children.

Your gross salary per month

Usually the average of the last 6 or 12 months counts. At most CHF 12,350 a month is insured.

CHF

Children you have to support

Children under 25 for whom you have a duty to support.

children

Benefit per month

CHF 4,200roughly, gross

Share of the insured salary

70 %

Previous salary

CHF 6,000

Benefit

CHF 4,200

You get 70 percent of your insured salary. With children or a salary up to CHF 3,797 it would be 80 percent.

Simplified, before deductions for OASI, accident and pension fund. According to AVIG, as of 2026. Your unemployment fund calculates the exact amount. Not advice.

Want to know more?

What do you sort out in which order?

Register with the RAV. Best as soon as you know about the dismissal, at the latest on the first day without work. For days before registration there is no money.
Choose an unemployment fund. It pays out the benefit. You can choose between the public fund of your canton and other funds.
Sort out your pension fund. Give your previous fund a vested benefits account.
Clarify accident and illness. Check interim accident insurance, daily sickness allowance and accident cover in your health insurance.

How are you insured while you receive benefit?

Risk	Who insures you	What you pay
Accident	Suva	2.47 percent of the benefit
Death and disability	Substitute occupational benefit institution	Half of the contributions
Old age, pension fund	Nobody	No saving during this time
OASI	Through the benefit	OASI contributions as with salary
Illness, loss of income	Unemployment fund, only briefly	After that your own insurance

Figures according to Suva and AVIG, as of 2026.

What does that mean in francs?

You earned CHF 6,000 a month and have no children. You get 70 percent, so around CHF 4,200 before deductions. With one child it would be 80 percent, so CHF 4,800. Monthly salary above CHF 12,350 is not insured.

What many people get wrong

“I will only register when money gets tight.” Nobody pays for days before registration.
“Without a job I am not insured against accidents.” With benefit, Suva insures you.
“The pension fund keeps running.” Only for death and disability. For old age a gap arises.

When do I get 80 instead of 70 percent?

If you have a duty to support children under 25, if your insured salary is at most CHF 3,797 a month or if you receive a DI pension of at least 40 percent. Otherwise it is 70 percent.

Am I insured against accidents?

After your last working day you are still insured through your employer for 31 days. If you then receive unemployment benefit, Suva insures you. If the fund's decision is still open, take out an interim accident insurance before the 31 days run out.

What happens to my pension fund?

Your balance goes to a vested benefits account. Give the old fund an address for it. While you receive benefit, you are insured against death and disability through the substitute occupational benefit institution. Half of these contributions is deducted from you.

What applies if I fall ill?

In temporary illness the unemployment fund keeps paying until the 30th day at most. If you had daily sickness allowance through your employer, check the move to individual insurance straight away. The deadline for it is short.

One more question

What happens after my entitlement ends?

Then protection through Suva ends. Have the accident cover included in your health insurance again. You pay OASI contributions as a non-working person, at least CHF 530 a year, as of 2026.

This page explains in general terms and does not replace personal advice. Law and your policy are what counts.