Physiotherapy

Disability Insurance

With Zurich EmploymentRisk, you secure your income in the event that you become unfit for work due to illness or an accident. 

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What is disability?

Gain insights into the topic of disability: find out what really counts!

Examples from everyday life
A woman is working on a laptop
from 31 CHF
Laura, office employee (25 years old)

Laura is 25 years old and works in an office. From CHF 31 per month, she is protected in the event of disability – with a sum insured of CHF 12,000. 

A mother is riding a bicycle with her child
from 64 CHF
Martina, mother and housewife (35 years old)

Martina is 35 years old and looks after her children full-time. From CHF 64 per month, she is protected in the event of disability – with a sum insured of CHF 24,000. 

 A man is working on a construction site
from 82 CHF
Reto, craftsman (40 years old)

Reto is 40 years old and works in construction. From CHF 82 per month, he is protected in the event of disability – with a sum insured of CHF 24,000. 

Information and frequently asked questions about disability income insurance

Financial benefits

You will receive your full pension in the event of a disability of 66.6 percent or more. In addition, you no longer have to pay the insurance premiums in the event of disability. We'll take care of that for you.

You can also take out disability insurance together with savings insurance or other risk insurance. That way, you benefit from a lower premium.

Retirement provision benefits

You can also take out the premium for disability insurance as part of pillar 3a. In this case, you can deduct the premiums from your taxable income up to the maximum amount.

Further information

  • The minimum insurable disability pension is CHF 6,000 per year. The minimum term is three years.
  • The insurance generally applies in the event of disability resulting from illness. Consequences of an accident can also be included as an option.
  • We let you share in our success: You pay lower premiums if we achieve greater profits than expected (participation in surpluses).

How worthwhile is disability insurance?

Disability insurance is worthwhile for everyone: young or old, employed or self-employed, families or individuals. After all, a disability will always mean a gap in the household budget. The benefits from state and occupational retirement provision are usually not sufficient to maintain the accustomed standard of living. With disability insurance, you at least protect yourself and your loved ones from financial worries following a stroke of fate.

What are the most frequent causes of disability?

Illnesses are the most common cause of disability, accounting for 81 percent of cases. Of these, mental illnesses (49 percent), diseases of the bones and musculoskeletal system (12 percent) and nervous disorders (9 percent) account for the largest share.

Accidents account for 6 percent and birth defects for 13 percent of the causes of disability.

Further information can be found in the [info sheet "AI statistics 2021" (german version)

When is someone considered unfit for work?

A person is considered unfit for work if they can no longer carry out the following activities due to illness or an accident:

  • their job
  • other reasonable gainful employment
  • a familiar activity such as childcare or household chores

A person can be fully or partially unfit for work. Zurich's disability insurance pays pension benefits starting from a degree of disability of 25 percent.

When does a person receive a disability pension and for how long is it paid out?

You will receive a pension with a degree of disability of 25 percent or more. The pension is based on the degree of your disability. You will receive your full pension in the event of a degree of disability of 66.6 percent or more. You will receive the pension until your standard retirement at the latest. However, you can choose how long the insurance should last.

I already have health insurance and daily sickness benefits insurance. Why do I also need disability insurance?

Your health insurance will only pay your medical bills; it won't pay any compensation for a shortfall in income. To cover this income shortfall, you can take out daily sickness benefits insurance. However, this only pays daily allowances for a maximum of two years. After that, you won't receive any more benefits.

It is after these two years that the disability insurance kicks in. This pays you the agreed pension until your standard retirement at the latest. You can choose the term for yourself.

What benefits do I receive in the event of a disability from the 1st and 2nd pillars?

In the event of a disability, you receive a disability pension from the 1st pillar. The amount of the pension depends on your degree of disability. You likewise receive a disability pension from the 2nd pillar. The level of the pension depends on the retirement provision plan of your pension fund. If you have children, you will also receive a disabled person's child's pension. In addition, you will be exempt from the obligation to contribute. That means that you no longer have to pay into the 2nd pillar yourself. The pension fund pays the contributions for you so that your retirement assets continue to accumulate.

I feel fit as a fiddle. How great is the risk of a disability?

Life is beautiful as long as we remain healthy. Unfortunately, we cannot rule out strokes of fate such as illnesses or accidents. If you want to protect yourself and your family financially in the event of an emergency, you need to take precautions early on.

Guide to retirement provision and investing

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As soon as two people are co-habiting, they are living in a common-law partnership. A couple in a common-law partnership, however, does not enjoy the same protection as a married couple. We explain why.