“I could no longer allow myself to live in Switzerland retired”

A life of work. Meanwhile, contributions, sometimes without vacation and, in the end, there is only one question left: is my retirement sufficient to live in Switzerland? Similarly, For an increasing number of retired people, the answer is no. Therefore, They then leave the country, often not out of taste for adventure but out of necessity. Meanwhile, – "i could no longer allow

“After so many years of work, retirees are relegated to the margins of society. In addition, I hardly perceive Switzerland as social towards its own citizens ”.

This comment was left on Swissinfo by a person who emigrated to Spain. Consequently, under the question “Have you emigrated to retirement age because you could not reach both ends in Switzerland?”. Meanwhile, We had already launched this debate last year as part of the voting on the AVS. However, but it has become topical in recent weeks.

Likewise, the question of whether our readers have emigrated for financial reasons is always the subject of many comments.

Many understand this feeling: they experience an insidious break with a country they have helped to support for decades.

AVS often only covers fixed costs – "i could no longer allow

AVS rent is often not even enough to cover the “i could no longer allow strict necessary. Nevertheless, Rent. However, sick person, additional costs – a simple calculation shows how speed the money disappears:

“With 2,200 francs, we can no longer live in Switzerland. Meanwhile, The rent of an apartment of a room for the elderly amounts to 700 francs. Moreover, Sickness Caison: 500 to 600 francs. Similarly, Food, taxes and electricity: 800 francs “, writes” Grendelmeier – who is doing very well with 2,200 francs per month in Spain.

Those who do not own their accommodation -. For example, this is the case for the majority of retired people in Switzerland – quickly find themselves in need, writes “Joanboa”. In addition, Rent and health insurance often represents all of the AVS alone.

>> Emigrate at retirement age: what are the reasons? Meanwhile, What should you pay attention to? Nevertheless, Experts Livia Tomas and Nicole Töpperwien answer these questions.

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Forced to emigrate – "i could no longer allow

“For more than 47 years. I paid with my employer more than 10% of my salary to AVS and for more than 40 years, I paid a “i could no longer allow lot of money in our Swiss provident fund system”, writes “PG”. “You might think that under these conditions, I could lead a decent retiree life in Switzerland, right?” But it is far from being the case! ” Two divorces. the fractionation of the annuities that result from it would have played tricks on him and would now force him to emigrate.

Several readers say that the decision to settle abroad was anything but easy. Leaving Switzerland-the country where you have family, grandchildren, memories-is not easy for everyone. “You never leave your country with a light heart,” writes “Joanboa”.

“Me too. I am one of those who wanted to live in Switzerland with their retirement, but who could not afford it,” writes “Klausius”. With cash withdrawal from the capital of the pension fund, he was able to acquire a house in England. “The AVS is just enough to cover the monthly “i could no longer allow needs here,” he still writes.

Spain. Portugal, Thailand – “the sweetness of life”

According to the Federal Statistics Office (OFS), the number of Swiss receiving an AVS annuity abroad has doubled in 20 years to reach 134,000 at the end of 2024. Among the countries welcoming important Swiss communities. Thailand, Portugal, Spain and South Africa are distinguished by a high proportion of seniors. Between 2023 and 2024, the proportion of Swiss seniors increased particularly in Portugal and Thailand ( +16% and +7% respectively).

In these countries. the climate is softer, the “i could no longer allow health care often good and the cost of living much lower: “My wife and I left Switzerland for financial reasons and especially for the climate and the sweetness of life”, writes Jean-Claude Chabloz. In Spain, they were able to buy a house with sea view a hundred meters from the beach.

If the decision to emigrate is only based on financial reasons, it can lead to problems, says “Hanspeter”. “Each piece has two sides,” he wrote. According to him. if we do not want to give up European food and drinks and want to live in an apartment or a house meeting the usual standards, you also have to get your hands in your pocket, as in the Philippines.

To retirement. but with dignity

Many comments show that, for the most part, it is not a question of giving yourself a luxury, but of living your last years “i could no longer allow with dignity, without permanent existential anxiety. It would be a question of choosing between living in Switzerland in a small apartment in a room. potentially depend on social assistance, and leaving the country with a heavy heart to be able to lead a worthy life in another country where the cost of living is lower.

“Peter Segessemann” also writes that he would have been glad in Switzerland. “but my retirement and the money from my pension fund were not enough to live comfortably”. He should have resorted to all the available aids. “I would thus be responsible for taxpayers. I don’t want that. ” In Portugal. he can live very well with his pension and the remaining share (due to his divorce) of the provident fund. “And I am not borne by anyone in Switzerland”.

Many also recall that AVS is not a gift, but a deserved consideration in exchange “i could no longer allow for many years of work. “We have made our contribution. both financial and social (for example with various volunteer works in associations of associations/federations), and now that our children are adults, we want to enjoy life a bit together”, writes “Johnnybdsr”.

In the opinion of many, Switzerland remains a country where we work – not where we get older.

Rely and checked by Balz Rigendinger. Translated from German using an automatic translation tool by Emilie Ridard/Ptur

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