Summary
Expenditures for bridge benefits (ÜL) in Switzerland increased by 10.1 percent to 30.3 million francs in 2025. In December 2025, approximately 900 persons received bridge benefits – roughly the same number as at the end of 2024. The federal government bears the full cost. Particularly noteworthy: unemployed persons aged 60 to 64 increased by 20 percent. The figures are provisional, as year-end registrations have not yet been fully recorded.
Persons
- No individuals mentioned by name
Topics
- Social security
- Unemployment insurance
- Federal budgets
- Old-age security
Clarus Lead
The disproportionate cost increase with a stable beneficiary rate suggests higher benefit rates or longer benefit periods. Particularly relevant for social policy: The 20-percent increase among persons aged 60 and over signals growing difficulties in labor market access for older workers – an issue that the upcoming evaluation of bridge benefits in 2027 should clarify. This puts pressure on the federal budget, even though the system is still in its pilot phase.
Detailed Summary
Bridge benefits, an instrument to support unemployed persons exhausting their benefits in Switzerland, show accelerated cost development. With an increase of 10.1 percent compared to 2024, the growth rate significantly exceeds inflation expectations. This suggests that not only is the number of beneficiaries increasing, but average benefit amounts or benefit duration have also risen.
The demographic shift toward older recipients is marked: persons aged 60 to 64 who have exhausted their benefits accounted for a one-fifth higher share in 2025 than in 2024. This reflects structural challenges in the labor market for older workers who, after exhausting unemployment insurance, cannot find regular employment. The stable overall figures (approximately 900 persons) suggest that growth in the 60+ age group is offset by declines in younger cohorts.
The planned statutory evaluation for 2027 will be based on data from five years of program operation and will provide insight into the system's effectiveness and sustainability. Until then, it remains unclear whether the cost increase is a temporary phenomenon or a structural trend.
Key Messages
- Bridge benefit expenditures rose 10.1 percent to 30.3 million francs in 2025; federal government bears costs in full
- Beneficiary rate stable at approximately 900 persons, but 20-percent increase among 60–64-year-olds
- Statutory evaluation with complete five-year data to take place in 2027; publication also planned
Critical Questions
Data Quality: Why are the December 2025 figures still provisional, and how large is the typical expected correction?
Cost Drivers: Is the 10.1-percent increase primarily attributable to more beneficiaries, higher benefit rates, or longer benefit periods?
Age Effect: What economic or labor market factors explain the 20-percent increase among 60–64-year-olds?
System Design: Is there evidence that bridge benefits as a temporary solution lead to permanent dependency rather than enabling return to employment?
Comparability: How do bridge benefit rates differ regionally or by sector to identify at-risk groups?
Sustainability: Is the budget for bridge benefit expenditures set at 30+ million francs annually, or is a reassessment expected?
Sources
Primary Source: Statistics on Bridge Benefits 2025 – State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), May 26, 2026
Legal Basis: Bridge Benefits Act (ÜLG), Art. 28 – Federal Council, 2021
Verification Status: ✓ May 26, 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: May 26, 2026