Pension withdrawal - UK

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
I left CH 3 years ago, I have 36k in a vested benefit account (stiftung auffangeinrichtung) made up only of basic mandatory payments.

As for as I can see there is no way to move from CH to the UK.

New interest rates at 0.01% means that 36k will get destroyed by inflation.

I am 20 years from retirement.

Is there ANYTHING better I can do, or do I just watch it wither away?

Any suggestion that Brexit will break the withdrawal deadlock?

Thanks in advance for replies - Steve

2
If you were self employed in the UK or unemployed I believe you are NOT required to be insured so could take the cash in full.

3
The Association of Swiss Abroad (ASO) has a webpage on this topic. In addition to fatmanfilms input regarding self-employment in an EU country, there are several other possibilities to withdraw Pillar II capital:

https://www.aso.ch/en/consultation/l...of-the-capital

4
You can move the money from the Stitung Auffangeinrichtung to a private vested benefit account which allows you to invest into funds.

https://web.aeis.ch/EN/pages/208/Tra...s%20foundation

5
Contact your Swiss bank. There are some options, I believe. There is some route where, IIRC, you can have it paid out to a mortgage provider, or as part of a home purchase. I forget the details but I know our Swiss bank was very helpful with the whys and wherefores. I believe it is subject to UK tax though.

6
Does anyone know if this is likely to change after Jan 1st?

I’m not looking forward to seeing my 8 yrs worth disappear over the remaining 16 yrs before minimum retiring age.

7
https://viac.ch/en/vested-benefits/ is good for investing in equities if you can't withdraw.

8

Yes that's right it's possible to be paid out. Just contact the Swiss bank.

9

Thanks for the link. I'm in a very similar situation to the original poster and I'm thinking about shifting my pillar 2 pension into one of their accounts.

Does anyone know whether the interest earned by this type of investment account is liable for UK tax on an annual basis?

10
No as you don't have access to the funds. It's held in trust until it vests as either cash or a pension.

11
Thanks for the info!

12
When are we going to get info on how Brexit affeects the pension withdrawal and contribution

I am deferring paying this years pension until I know a little more and time is running out

13
I don't think there will be any changes as far as UK/CH are concerned, as neither country are in the EU.

14
What do you mean - I though t that Brexit would result in pillar 2 withdrawals being available in full as UK no longer in the EU. If that is the case then I want to stuff the pension as much as possible

15
Nope it's depends on social security agreement.

You can withdraw 100% if not subject to insurance requirements, not working or self employed would work.

16
Hang on a second now I am completely confused. Isn’t the bvg part blocked if you go to the eu? And the only way to access that is to buy a house with a mortgage

17
It’s based on the insurance requirement in your new state.

If you use the search function you will see my thread, I took my Swiss pension in full aged 52

18
Hi all,

I started looking into all this a few months ago and got good advice from fatmanfilms.

Since then my ideas have evolved. I plan to return the UK at 55 years of age, and if still possible, withdraw all of my Swiss pension (compulsory and non-compulsory parts).

This would appear to be possible based upon what I've read so far, as long as I am not in employment when I return to the UK (in order to not be subject to compulsary insurance).

My funds will be subject to Swiss witholding tax and tax free upon reception in the UK. From there I will invest in property and funds to generate my income, which will be supplemented with some employment income if I feel like it or need it.

Finally, because I leave early, I won't be subject to LAMal contributions at "retirement".

Will be keeping a keen eye on how things change, or not, post-Brexit.

19
You don't have to wait to 55 to retire to the UK & take your Swiss pension as cash, I got the cash at 52.

20
Absolutely, but our decision is unrelated to retirement age. We're simply planning to go back in 2023 for various reasons, and I just happen to be 55 that year I'll be 54 or 55 when we leave.

Does being 55 actually change anything in respect to my plans do you know ?