🇨🇭 Switzerland - Social Support

The information on this page was collected from public resources.

What other forms of social support/welfare should I know about? (Buddy systems, etc.) Who is eligible? How does someone apply?

Refugees from Ukraine are entitled to asylum social assistance from the date of registration at a federal asylum centre (FAC) or from the date on which they submitted their application. However, asylum social assistance can only be paid once the refugee has received confirmation of their protection status S from the SEM. This will be sent by post. It will take some time before you receive this written confirmation (issue process, post delivery time). Municipalities or the authority responsible for asylum social assistance need confirmation in order to pay the money correctly. In the event of major financial difficulties, municipalities can provide you with emergency assistance before you have received SEM confirmation. Here are the websites for the individual cantons with their points of contact for those fleeing Ukraine.

As of August 11, 2022, Switzerland has changed the conditions for obtaining financial aid for Ukrainians. Previously, all refugees who obtained S status in the state were entitled to monthly support in the amount of 1,500 Swiss francs (€1,510). However, each application for payment is considered separately, taking into account the financial situation of a specific person or family. All types of income are taken into account, regardless of whether they are received in Ukraine or Switzerland. More information here .

Are there any social benefits I can claim such as child support?

There are no cash payments to support children in Switzerland. In public schools and kindergartens in Switzerland, parents do not pay for tuition, including for books or writing materials.

The only case is that parents pay for lunch if their child has lunch at school.

Are there any social benefits for pregnant and nursing women?

There are no separate cash benefits for pregnant women.

Where to go in case of pregnancy may differ in different cantons. As a rule, you can visit a specialist (gynecologist). Check with the Social Security Office of your locality where you should go for a check-up and consultation in case of pregnancy.

You can find information on health care in Switzerland on Swiss Red Cross website and Federal Office of Public Health FOPH website . They have also put in place a hotline to answer your questions: 0041 58 387 77 20. There are no separate cash benefits for pregnant women.

How can I meet and socialize with other Ukrainians in a similar position?

You can meet and start communicating with Ukrainians in Switzerland in these groups and chats:

Facebook

Are there specific social supports available to me if I am elderly?

Authorities are responsible for organizing specialized support. Their employees clarify individual needs and can arrange the necessary assistance. However, due to their high workload at the moment, there may be situations where not everyone will receive adequate assistance promptly. In these cases, you can additionally apply to non-governmental organizations of people with disabilities. For example, Pro Infirmis also supports refugees with disabilities in the current crisis and has its branch offices all over Switzerland. This association is a non-governmental organization.

Support requests for all forms of disability (necessary aids, care, etc.) can be sent to the Pro Infirmis email address: ukraine@proinfirmis.ch.

Hearing-impaired persons can contact the Deutschschweiz BFSUG (ukraine@bfsug.ch) or the Swiss Society for the Deaf (Deutschschweiz at info-d@sgb-fss.ch.) at info-f@sgb-fss.ch, in Tessin at info-i@sgb-fss.ch.

Visually impaired persons can contact the Swiss Society for the Visually Impaired philippe.gerber@sbv-fsa.ch

Are there specific social supports available to me if I have a disability?

Support requests for all forms of disability (necessary aids, care, etc.) can be sent to the Pro Infirmis email address: ukraine@proinfirmis.ch.

Visually impaired persons can contact the Swiss Society for the Visually Impaired philippe.gerber@sbv-fsa.ch

For all matters related to school and education combined with visual impairments in children and adolescents, the SZBLIND society has created the following e-mail address: bildung@szblind.ch.

If you are a cancer patient please find hereafter some information by the Swiss Cancer League: Krebspatient:innen aus der Ukraine auf der Flucht .

How can I help others? What volunteering organisations could I join?

If you want to help other Ukrainians, you can offer your services in these Telegram chats