Detailed calculation method
Family allowances are a federal entitlement, but the amounts are set by the cantons. The Confederation only imposes a floor; above it, each canton does as it pleases. That is why the same family receives CHF 430 a month in one canton and more than double in another.
The two allowances and their 2026 legal minimums
- Child allowance: from birth to age 16 — minimum CHF 215 per month
- Education allowance: from 16 and up to 25 at most, as long as the child is in education — minimum CHF 268 per month
If a child under 16 is already in post-compulsory education, the education allowance replaces the child allowance.
Three mechanisms set the cantons apart, and the calculator applies them as they are:
- A single flat amount, in most cantons.
- An age step: Zurich and Lucerne pay more beyond age 12; Zug raises its education allowance beyond 18.
- An increase from the 3rd child: Fribourg, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva pay a higher amount from the third child. The calculator ranks your children from oldest to youngest to assign positions.
Nine cantons add a birth or adoption allowance, paid once: from CHF 1,000 in Schwyz up to CHF 2,142 in Valais. Vaud, Valais and Geneva almost double the amount per child for multiple births. Tick the corresponding box to display it.
The ranking of the 26 cantons is recomputed for your exact family composition rather than a model case: depending on the age and number of your children, the order changes. A canton generous on the education allowance can be mediocre on young children.
Limitations and accuracy
The most counter-intuitive point: the canton that matters is not necessarily the one you live in. Allowances are paid by the employer's compensation fund, so in principle it is the employer's canton that sets the amounts. A Fribourg resident employed in Geneva receives the Geneva amounts.
Not modelled: the priority rules when both parents are entitled (only one entitlement per child), separated-parent situations, work in several cantons, the specific agricultural regime (LFA: CHF 215 in lowland areas, CHF 235 in mountain areas, plus a CHF 100 household allowance), the self-employed and non-employed, and children living abroad, who are subject to restrictive rules.
Finally, the amounts are those of 1 January 2026 and cantons revise them regularly: the latest version of the official Federal Social Insurance Office table always prevails over this page. A special case? Ask your employer's compensation fund — it alone decides.
Frequently asked questions
Which canton pays my family allowances?
The one of your employer's compensation fund, not necessarily the one you live in. If you live in Fribourg and work in Geneva, the Geneva amounts apply in principle.
What is the legal minimum in Switzerland?
CHF 215 a month for the child allowance and CHF 268 for the education allowance. No canton may go below; several pay markedly more, up to CHF 330 in Zug or CHF 435 in Valais from the third child.
Who receives the allowance if both parents work?
Only one allowance is paid per child. The federal act sets an order of priority between entitled persons, taking into account gainful employment, parental authority and the child's canton of residence. In case of doubt, the compensation fund decides.
Until what age are allowances paid?
The child allowance runs until the month the child turns 16. The education allowance then takes over as long as the child is in education, at the latest until 25. Some cantons provide a child allowance until 20 for a child unable to work.
Are family allowances taxable?
Yes. They are part of taxable income and appear on the salary certificate. They are not, however, subject to social security contributions.
Sources and references