Zug,19.12.2014

Zug pays pensions later than other cantons

He receives his pension punctually, but always eight to ten days late, says Karl Müller ironically. It annoys him that Canton Zug makes its pension payments significantly later than elsewhere. "This actually has no serious consequences for me, but I think it’s totally unfair," he affirms. A friend had told him that he anxiously waits for the money every month, because he is  strongly dependent on it, and adds, "There a probably a lot of people who don’t dare say anything."
 
As a self-employed person, he learned how strict and stern the AHV could be, says Müller. "Anyone who didn’t pay the employer's contributions within ten days was threatened with minus interest and fines." He can’t understand why retirees have to wait, adding. "I wouldn’t mind if f the employees of the AHV Zug also didn’t receive their wages until the 8th. That would be equal treatment." Müller is particularly annoyed by the fact that retirees in other cantons receive their pensions earlier, mostly on the first day of the month. "Former Landis + Gyr or Siemens employees for example, who are not paid by the Zug AHV branch, but from Zurich."
 
Livia Sturm, responsible for communication at the Zug AHV branch, confirmed the different payment dates. "Yes, that may be true. The Zug Compensation Fund (Ausgleichskasse Zug) makes the payments available in the first days of the month. If there’s a weekend in between, it could take a day or two longer for the money to arrive. According to the law, the cash benefits for the entire calendar month have to be received by AHV pensioners by the 20th of the month. "The Ausgleichskasse Zug thereby pays the pensions much earlier than is provided for by law," stresses Sturm. The compensation funds of some other cantons pay their pensions on the first days of the month, she explains, although there might be slight variations here and there.
 
Pensions and disability allowances are always paid in advance for the entire calendar month. A benefit that replaces a previous one will, however, first be arranged for the following month. "The payments are organised in advance. While wages aren’t paid until the end of each month, pensioners receive their pensions at the start of the month, "says Sturm and adds:" If a payment is received on December 8th, that is therefore the pension for the whole of December."