To avoid paying benefits that are not due, the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) needs to verify that claimants are genuine and actually alive. A certificate of life and marital status is therefore issued to affected claimants on an annual basis. The relevant form is sent to claimants one year after benefits are first paid out. To ensure that pensions continue to be paid without interruption, the form must be completed, certified by the appropriate authority and returned to the SCO in Geneva within 90 days.
Life and civil status certificate
In New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue the following authorities can certify a Life Certificate:
- Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington
- Honorary Consulates in Auckland, Apia, Suva and Nuku’alofa
- Notary Public
- Justice of the Peace
If you have any questions, please contact the Swiss Central Compensation Office:
Central compensation Office
Voluntary scheme - benefits
Avenue Edmond-Vaucher 18
Case Postale 3100
CH 1211 Genève 2
Tel : +41 (0)58 461 91 11
Fax : +41 (0)58 461 97 05
E-mail : sedmaster@zas.admin.ch
Homepage : www.zas.admin.ch
Disclosure requirement
In addition to submitting a certificate of life and marital status, claimants must disclose to the office responsible for paying out benefits any change in their personal circumstances which could cause benefits to be discontinued, increased or reduced and any change of address or bank account details.
If you are registered with a Swiss representation, please also inform the representation of any change of address or civil status.
