Swiss disability insurance funding no longer reflects mental illness
Friday 14th August 2026 on 22:45 in
Switzerland
Funding from Switzerland’s disability insurance system is increasingly out of step with the needs of people with mental illnesses, SRF reported. Almost half of new disability pensions are now granted because of mental illness, but organisations supporting these people receive only a small share of the system’s financial aid.
The disability insurance system distributes around 155 million Swiss francs a year to organisations for people with disabilities. Its distribution formula has changed little over the years, while the money is tied to multi-year contracts.
People with mental disabilities benefit from around 34 percent of disability insurance measures, but organisations in this field receive only 13.6 percent of the financial aid. The figures are reversed for people with visual impairments: they account for 2.4 percent of the measures but receive 19 percent of the funding.
The Federal Social Insurance Office is aware of the imbalance and has begun a process to adapt the system to current needs. Talks with cantons and organisations are under way on possible distribution criteria. However, a solution could still take years.
“It is more important to have a good solution than a quick solution,” said Florian Steinbacher of the Federal Social Insurance Office.
Redistributing the money is difficult because any gains for some organisations would mean losses for others. “Nobody wants to lose money,” said Muriel Langenberger, managing director of Pro Mente Sana, an organisation that supports people with mental illnesses. She said a conflict between organisations would not be a good solution and called instead for improvements to the system.
Jacha van Hout, who was diagnosed with autism late in life, described her experience as receiving every impression at once. She said counselling from Pro Mente Sana helped her during her struggle with the disability insurance system. She now plans to work as an autism coach and support others in similar situations.