Family allowances in Switzerland
Switzerland pays Family Allowances (FA) varying by canton — CHF 200 to 380/month for children under 16 and CHF 250 to 450/month for training (16–25). System organised through Family Compensation Funds (CCF). Federal LAFam law 2009 + cantonal supplements. 14-week maternity leave at 80% via APG.
Family Allowances (LAFam) paid by cantonal CCFs on cantonal scales (CHF 200–380 child, CHF 250–450 training). Large-family bonus in several cantons (3rd child). Birth/adoption grant in 11 French-speaking cantons + Ticino (~CHF 1,000–3,000). Parental allowance 80% of salary (max CHF 220/day) for 14 weeks maternity + 2 weeks paternity (2021 reform).
Family Allowances (LAFam) — cantonal system
Federal LAFam law (2009) setting a minimum, managed by cantonal Family Compensation Funds (CCF):
- Child (0–16): min CHF 215/month (LAFam), often higher:
- Geneva: CHF 311
- Vaud: CHF 300
- Bern: CHF 230
- Zurich: CHF 200
- Valais: CHF 295
- Training (16–25): min CHF 268/month (LAFam), often up to CHF 400–450
- Paid until end of compulsory schooling then during studies
- Stackable with other parent in more generous canton
Large-family allowances
Several cantons apply a top-up:
- Geneva: +CHF 100/month from 3rd child
- Vaud: +CHF 120/month from 3rd child
- Valais: +CHF 120/month for 3rd child
- Ticino: Assegno integrativo stackable
Birth and adoption grant
Paid only in 11 French-speaking cantons + Ticino:
- Geneva: CHF 2,073 (CHF 3,110 for 2nd child)
- Vaud: CHF 1,668
- Fribourg: CHF 1,500 (+CHF 750 per additional child)
- Valais: CHF 2,000 (CHF 3,000 from 2nd)
- Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern: CHF 1,200–1,500
- German-speaking cantons (Zurich, Basel, etc.): no grant
APG — Maternity income replacement
Federal maternity leave via the AVS/APG Compensation Fund:
- 14 weeks at 80% of average salary
- Cap: CHF 220/day (= ~CHF 6,600/month)
- Conditions: 9 months AVS + 5 months activity before birth
- Work banned during first 8 weeks
Paternity leave — 2 weeks (since 2021)
10 days of paternity leave compensated by APG since 1 January 2021 (2020 popular vote):
- 80% of salary (max CHF 220/day)
- To use within 6 months of birth
- Splittable
- Stackable with other leave
Childcare — cantonal system
System highly variable by canton/commune, generally expensive:
- Geneva: CHF 1,200–3,000/month by income
- Vaud: CHF 800–2,500/month
- Zurich: CHF 1,500–3,500/month
- Federal tax deductions up to CHF 25,500/child/year
- Subsidised nursery place: long waiting lists
Cantonal study grants
For students 16–30 in post-compulsory training:
- Managed by canton of residence, variable amounts
- Geneva: up to CHF 24,000/year (grant + loan)
- Vaud: up to CHF 16,000/year
- Zurich: more restrictive system (CHF 3,000–12,000)
- Conditions: parental income, student independence
How Illizeo helps on the HR side
Illizeo is not a consulting firm or a paying body. However, our HR layer manages all of an employee’s family variables: family composition (dependent children, ages), supporting documents, event declarations (birth, adoption), leave workflows (maternity, paternity, parental) with key date calculations, and automatic feed to your payroll software.
Official sources
Manage the HR side of family allowances
From birth declarations to parental leave calculation, Illizeo centralises variables and feeds your payroll automatically.
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