Swiss Authorities

Hello everyone

I just registered here to see if there are people with about same mentality who can understand and also criticize the Swiss politics/swiss humanity.

Has anyone experience with the Swiss Invalidenrente and the social?

I have been here in Switzerland since 1989 but I can’t work any longer since 2018.

The problem is these authorities. It’s like they don’t really want to help but they do it because the law says that.

I got extreme experience, it’ll be too much to write about it here, my teenagers are suffering because of this terrible situation.

I find it horrifying that there is no authorities who can help, when you have problems with the social or with the IV.

They probably wish that we go sick of them and leave the country.

Who has experience and want to discuss?

Greetings

Pantera Negro

Yes, it is not easy as they also want to make sure the application is valid.

And yes, I have friends who are benefitting from IV so it is definitely possible.

Is it a language issue you are having with them? It is a painstaking process, but, as said, it’s not impossible seeing how many people benefit from it.

So, no, I am not critisizing it and without knowing what causes your issues, I doubt anyone can. In my view Switzerland is pretty straightforward, follow the rules and you are fine.

Not according to their profile. They speak German and French and have Swiss nationality as well.

Also not sure what Swiss politics/humanity has to do with getting invalid benefits.

As roegner said without knowing more about your situation not a lot we can do to help.

I had an atypical experience with IV.

I had a health scare which required about 7 months of treatment. During this time, my salary was paid for by my employer and their insurance. IV entitlement only starts at 12 months, but I was sent the application document at 6 months, because the application process usually takes another 6 months to complete. In this way, the Swiss system was proactive.

Even though I knew I was getting better and was probably going to be out of treatment the following month, I went ahead and filled out the forms, because you never know until the scans come back and you get the final all clear. Being a responsible member of the system I then emailed and called them back a month later asking for my application to be cancelled. This really confused their staff and I was invited for a meeting to assess my condition and determine if I really didn't need help. We met, the councillor confirmed that I didn't need IV after all, as I could go back to work, but said that she didn't really have a way to cancel an application in progress. They then sent me a series of letters asking for more information which I didn't provide and then finally I was sent notice that my application was denied.

My overall impression of the system in Vaud is that they are used to dealing with people who are struggling to have it together and that there are multiple opportunities given to fulfill their requests with the assistance of the councillors if necessary. But I also was trying to get out of the system, not in.

OP, as others have written, we don’t know your story or why you seem to be so annoyed and distressed, or what kind of help you’d best need, now.

Experiences with the Disability Office (IV, AI) and the Social Services are... variable. Not only, like so many other aspects of life in Switzerland, from canton to canton or municipality to municipality, but also from case to case. Some people are doubted and subjected to disdain and even threats from the Disability Office or a social worker, while others are treated with respect and even get active help and their doctors' reports taken seriously.

The process can involve long waiting times. The Disability Office can set short deadlines for the applicant to comply with their requests while it, on the other hand, is not subject to the same system of deadlines in dealing with each next step.

The best things a person making a claim can do is to get help with keeping meticulous records ensuring they remain consistently polite neither provoking nor letting themselves be provoked complying with all the instructions supplying all the documentation required obtaining legal advice. The Social Services require information about income and expenditure and may require the same documents to be submitted several times, for verification. The Disability Office requires medical information.

As far as possible and if the doctors are open to conversations about the whole matter, the applicant should try to ensure that the doctors write solid medical reports, setting out: exactly which symptoms of which diagnoses cause which limitations how and why these limitations cause them to be unable to earn their own living which measures could yet be taken towards improvement, which others have already been taken and how they were or were not effective and why what is to be feared if the necessary measures are not taken and what the likely prognosis is. The systems of both the Disability Office and the Social Services, and all their jargon, can be difficult to navigate. Sometimes their staff are subjected to aggression by frustrated applicants. Staff working under stress contributes to high staff turnover, exacerbating delays and errors. Sometimes the staff members have to deal with the matter several times, either because their decisions are challenged by persons whose claims were denied or granted only in part, or because some doctors take a long time to write their reports, or medical conditions change and further reports need be submitted, or because the applicant does not or cannot supply what is needed to process the application. In some cantons, the staff of the Disability Office are put under explicit pressure to cut the amounts of benefits paid out. For matters taken to Court, there are long waiting lists causing further delays. If the Court find gaps or errors in the work of the Disability Office or the Social Services, that sends the matter into the next time-consuming round of assessment.

Altogether, I think this is possibly one of the worst aspects: when the matter - for whatever reason - drags on and on. It can be a frustrating and frightening process since, with the uncertainty causing additional stress for the person who, after all, was unwell and/or in need, to start with. The delays can strip resources, whether money or nerves, and that, in turn, worsens their health and can end up diminishing their chances of returning to gainful employment.

Try not to lose courage in what can be a long road.

You might be able to find some help from one of the organisations listed here:
https://www.englishforum.ch/2392552-post4.html
Some of those provide a certain amount of free legal advice to applicants who do not have enough legal insurance to cover the matter.

Also:

https://www.caritas.ch/de/angebote-u…nstleistungen/
This is a non-profit organization providing free advice on many aspects of social life, including dealing with the related government organizations, budget planning, and advice about free or low-cost help.

https://www.swsieber.ch/was-wir-tun/weiterhelfen/
This is a non-profit organization working towards preventing homelessness and, in connection with that, providing practical help in keeping one’s home or, if that has already been lost, finding one’s feet again.

https://streetchurch.ch/hilfe/
This is a church-based free social advice centre. It is not a requirement that one have any church affiliation or religious connection.

https://www.sozialhilfeberatung.ch/
This is a free non-profit organization which helps people who need assistance from the Social Services to make their applications and assert their rights.