Caring for relatives in Switzerland: 5 steps to compensation
Are you caring for a relative at home and want to be compensated? In Switzerland, family caregivers are entitled to a regular salary of up to CHF 51,900 per year. This guide shows you in five clear steps how to move from informal care to official employment and compensation.
The 5 steps to compensation
Have care needs assessed
Have your relative's care needs assessed by a family doctor or Spitex. A medical prescription is the basis for all further steps.
Apply for helplessness allowance
Report the helplessness to the AHV/IV compensation office. The helplessness allowance is often a prerequisite for family caregiver compensation.
Contact a Spitex organisation
Contact a Spitex organisation that employs family caregivers. pfleg.ch ag handles the placement and administration for you.
Employment as a family caregiver
Get officially employed by Spitex. This way, your care services are billed through the health insurance and you receive a regular salary.
Receive compensation
After employment, you receive your care salary monthly. Billing is handled by Spitex directly with the health insurance. Up to CHF 51,900 per year is possible.
Which care services are compensated?
The health insurance covers the costs of medically necessary care services according to KLV (Health Care Benefits Ordinance). These include:
- Basic care: Personal hygiene, feeding, dressing, help with getting up and lying down
- Treatment care: Medication administration, wound care, injections, blood pressure measurement
- Assessment and counselling: Needs assessment, care planning, counselling for relatives
Pure support services (companionship, accompaniment) are not covered by basic insurance but can be financed through helplessness allowance or supplementary benefits.
Requirements for compensation
To be compensated as a family caregiver, the following conditions must be met:
- The cared-for person has a medical prescription for home care
- There is a recognised helplessness (AHV/IV)
- You are employed by a Spitex organisation
- You reside in Switzerland
You do not need to have completed a care course to be employed. However, training influences the hourly wage. An overview of cantonal regulations can be found at Care allowance Switzerland.
How pfleg.ch supports you
pfleg.ch ag guides you through the entire process. We handle the needs assessment, the placement with a Spitex organisation, the employment and the entire administration including payroll. There are no costs for you, as the care is financed through health insurance.
The first step is a non-binding consultation. Use our Salary calculator to check your entitlement, or contact us directly. We will get back to you within 12 hours.
Do you care for a relative?
Check for free whether you are entitled to compensation of up to CHF 51,900 per year.