Married Couples: Why It's Often Difficult to Retire Together
“Those who understand how the Swiss pension system works sleep better.”
Retirement expert
published on
7. May 2026
Key Points at a Glance
The desire to retire from professional life at the same time as one’s partner is deeply rooted in many couples in Switzerland. Traveling together or pursuing long-delayed projects are meant to define this new phase of life. But reality shows that when a man retires and the woman is planning her pension, many encounter organizational and financial obstacles. In particular, the AHV cap and tax considerations require addressing the matter early on.
The Age Difference and the AHV Reform
Statistically speaking, men in Switzerland are usually two to three years older than their wives.
This age difference makes it difficult to retire at the same time, as the standard retirement age is often reached at different times. With the AHV-21 reform, which gradually raises the reference age for women to 65, the time gap in the retirement sequence widens further for many couples.
While the reform offers new possibilities for coordinating retirement through partial pensions and greater flexibility, couples often still have to decide whether one partner will work longer or the other will take early retirement, which in turn can result in lifelong reductions.
The AHV Cap: The “Marriage Cap”
A key financial consideration for married couples who wish to retire together is the so-called cap.
While individuals are currently entitled to a maximum pension of 2,520 francs (as of 2026), the sum of a married couple’s two individual pensions is capped at 150 percent of the maximum pension. This currently corresponds to a joint maximum amount of 3,780 francs per month.
This cap takes effect as soon as both partners begin receiving an old-age pension. If one partner is already retired and the second partner retires, this can lead to an immediate reduction in the first partner’s existing pension. This cap also affects the newly introduced 13th AHV pension, as its amount is based on the pension amounts actually received during the calendar year.
Tax consequences of simultaneous lump-sum withdrawals
In addition to the AHV, the taxation of pension funds poses a hurdle. When married couples retire together and withdraw their lump-sum benefits from the pension fund or Pillar 3a in the same calendar year, these amounts are added together for tax calculation purposes. Due to progressive taxation, this can lead to a significantly higher tax burden, often amounting to tens of thousands of francs compared to a staggered withdrawal.
Experts therefore recommend spreading the withdrawals over several tax periods. For example, one partner can withdraw their funds at the end of a year, while the other defers the withdrawal to the beginning of the following year.
Pension Gaps and Individual Planning
For successful planning, it is essential to identify potential contribution gaps early on. Such gaps often arise from stays abroad, extended periods of study, or career breaks for childcare. Since each missing contribution year reduces the AHV pension by 1/44, couples should regularly request an account statement from the compensation office. Missing contributions can be paid retroactively within five years.
Occupational pension plans (2nd pillar) and private pension plans (3rd pillar) also play a central role in maintaining one’s accustomed standard of living, as the AHV and pension fund together often cover only about 60 to 70 percent of one’s final income.
Early retirement planning pays off
The challenges for married couples are diverse—ranging from the cap on AHV pensions to complex tax issues. To avoid financial losses and enjoy your time together in retirement worry-free, a professional and personalized pension analysis is recommended starting at age 40.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the cap mean for married couples under the AHV?
A married couple’s pensions are capped together at a maximum of 150 percent of the applicable maximum pension for single individuals. If the sum of the individual pensions exceeds this amount, both pensions are reduced proportionally.
How does the cap affect the 13th AHV pension?
The 13th pension corresponds to one-twelfth of the old-age pensions received in the respective year. Since the monthly pensions for married couples are capped by the ceiling, the supplement from the 13th pension is correspondingly lower than for two unmarried individuals.
Why should married couples stagger their lump-sum withdrawals from their pension plans?
Since the tax authorities add together the lump-sum withdrawals of both spouses within a calendar year, the progressive tax rate results in a higher percentage tax burden if the withdrawals are made simultaneously. Spreading the withdrawals over different years can significantly reduce the tax burden.
Can missing AHV contribution years be paid retroactively?
Yes, missing contribution years can be paid retroactively for up to five years. After that, retroactive payments for these periods are no longer possible, which results in a lifelong reduction in pension benefits.