Your first contact: the cantonal IV office
Every canton has a disability insurance office, for example OAI Vaud in Vevey or OCAS in Geneva. Its rehabilitation advisers assess the remaining capacity for work and build a return-to-work plan before even considering a pension.
The principle of rehabilitation before pension
The Federal Disability Insurance Act gives priority to keeping people in, or returning them to, the labour market. In practice, a claim filed with the IV office leads first to vocational measures, with a pension only if these measures fail or are impossible.
Career guidance and retraining funded by the IV
When the former occupation is no longer possible, for example for a bricklayer with back problems, the IV can fund retraining with daily allowances and accommodation costs. Options for further training and career change in Switzerland are explored with the IV adviser.
Reintegration measures for mental health conditions
For mental health conditions, the IV offers socio-professional reintegration measures lasting up to one year: stamina training, gradual resumption of working hours, supported work placements. They prepare the person to then follow a standard vocational measure with an employer on the open labour market.
Trial placement with an employer
A trial placement allows someone to work for up to 180 calendar days in a company without an employment contract, while remaining covered by the IV. The employer provides a suitable post, signs a written agreement setting objectives and then completes a final assessment.
The induction allowance paid to the employer
If the company signs a genuine contract, the IV can reimburse part of the salary for up to 180 days, until output matches the agreed wage. A tripartite agreement binds employer, employee and IV office; the employee always receives their full contractual salary.
Adapted posts and part-time work in Swiss companies
Many returns to work happen on reduced hours, with an ergonomic workstation or adjusted schedules. Cantonal administrations, SBB, Swiss Post and the large Basel pharmaceutical groups promote inclusion. Part-time work in Switzerland remains a common route for a gradual return.
Sheltered workshops and social enterprises
Institutions belonging to INSOS or ARTISET, such as the sheltered workshops of French-speaking Switzerland, offer supervised jobs, often in logistics, packaging or catering. They serve as a springboard, or a lasting solution, when the output expected on the open market is not yet achievable.
Unemployment, ORP and disability: who does what
A person awaiting an IV decision can register with the ORP (regional employment centre) if available for suitable work. Unemployment insurance pays 80% of insured earnings from a 40% degree of disability; see our page on unemployment and the ORP in Switzerland.
What the LHand guarantees and what it does not
The Disability Discrimination Act (LHand) mainly covers transport, buildings and public services. It imposes no hiring quota on the private sector; protection relies on the Code of Obligations, rules on unfair dismissal and companies' internal policies.
Whether to mention your disability at interview
Candidates do not have to reveal a medical diagnosis; they only need to mention what would prevent them from doing the job. Many IV advisers recommend talking about concrete needs, such as an adapted screen or breaks, rather than the illness itself.
Occupations often open after rehabilitation
Retraining funded by the IV frequently leads to administration, accounting, IT support or light logistics. A CFC (Federal VET Diploma) in commerce remains a classic route, as do administrative assistant jobs in Switzerland in hospitals or municipalities.
Steps to get back into work with a disability
- File a claim for IV benefits with the IV office of your home canton, or report a prolonged incapacity for work early through the early detection procedure.
- Work with the rehabilitation adviser on an assessment of your capacity for work, covering medical limitations and the tasks you can still perform.
- Choose the right measure: career guidance, retraining, reintegration measures, trial placement or induction allowance.
- Write a Swiss-format CV with an optional photo, employment references and certificates for IV measures already completed.
- Register with the ORP if you are available for placement, and coordinate your job search with the IV office to avoid duplication.
- Target inclusive employers, INSOS workshops or public administrations, then negotiate workplace adjustments before signing the contract.
Pay, support and costs of working with a disability
| Item | Amount or rule | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Trial placement | Up to 180 calendar days, without an employment contract | IV office decision, objectives set in the agreement |
| Induction allowance | Partial reimbursement of salary to the employer, 180 days maximum | Amount set by the IV office based on initial output |
| Unemployment benefit | 80% of insured earnings from a 40% degree of disability | Contribution period, age, fund's decision |
| Salary on the open market | Usual pay for the occupation, indicative under the CCT | Canton, working percentage, cantonal minimum in Geneva or Neuchâtel |
| Pay in a sheltered workshop | Often low pay, supplemented by an IV pension | Institution, output, employee status |
Useful documents for the IV file and applications
- IV claim form and recent medical reports
- Swiss CV and cover letter focused on skills
- Employment references from former employers
- Diplomas, CFC or training and retraining certificates
- IV decision or trial placement agreement
- Residence permit or Swiss identity document
- Proof of ORP registration where applicable
Mistakes that slow down a return to work
- Waiting for the pension decision before contacting the IV office, when rehabilitation measures work better if they start early.
- Refusing a measure offered by the IV without medical justification, which can lead to benefits being reduced or suspended.
- Applying for jobs clearly incompatible with your recognised limitations, then piling up rejections and losing confidence.
- Forgetting to mention the induction allowance at interview, when this financial argument often reassures hesitant SMEs.
- Disclosing a medical diagnosis in detail to the recruiter instead of simply presenting the adjustments needed to do the job.
Disability and work in Switzerland: your questions answered
Can you work while receiving a partial IV pension?
Yes. A partial pension is compatible with a job matching your remaining capacity. Any change in income or working percentage must however be reported to the IV office, which can review the degree of disability and the amount of the pension.
Are Swiss employers obliged to hire people with disabilities?
No, Switzerland has no legal hiring quota in the private sector. Incentives come through the IV, with trial placements and the induction allowance, and through the inclusion policies of certain administrations and large companies.
Can a cross-border worker with a disability benefit from Swiss IV?
A cross-border worker who contributes in Switzerland is in principle insured with Swiss IV and may, depending on their situation, benefit from rehabilitation measures. Coordination with insurers in the country of residence is complex, so check with the IV office of the employer's canton.
How long does an IV rehabilitation procedure take?
The duration varies greatly depending on the canton, the medical complexity and the measure chosen. A reintegration measure lasts at most one year and a trial placement 180 days, while full retraining can extend over several years of training.