Family Allowances: Acts and ordinances
The Family Allowances Act is in force since 1st January 2009. Introduced for the purpose of standardisation, the law nevertheless leaves the cantons a certain degree of discretion with regard to the amounts of the allowances, their organisation and financing.
National legislation
There are two pieces of federal legislation on family allowances: the Family Allowances Act and the Family Allowances for Agricultural Workers Act. These are supplemented by the Family Allowances Ordinance and the Family Allowances in Agriculture Ordinance.
In the Family Allowances Act, the definition of education which gives rise to an education allowance entitlement is based on the provisions of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Act on child pensions and orphan pensions.
The following pieces of federal legislation also contain provisions on family allowances: the Federal Act on Mandatory Unemployment Insurance and Insolvency Benefit; the Accident Insurance Act; the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Act; and the Invalidity Insurance Act.
The uniform procedure established by the Social Security Act also applies to family allowances.
Further information:
The Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) also issues guidelines on the application of the Family Allowances Act, as well as a commentary on family allowances for agricultural workers and guidelines on the family allowances register.
Cantonal legislation
The Family Allowances Act guarantees a certain degree of standardisation but affords the cantons some latitude in relation to setting not only allowance amounts but also the organisational and financing aspects of the scheme. This page provides information on cantonal legislation that deals with family allowances.