Maintenance advances (MA) are part of collection support which also includes receipt of alimony and temporary payments in procedures to establish parentage. Depending on cantonal legislation, advances can be requested for maintenance payments for children only or also for the (ex-)spouse.
Proportion of people receiving maintenance advances by canton and in Switzerland
Data on recipients of maintenance advances are collected in 25 cantons. In 2021, 46 000 received maintenance advances in Switzerland, i.e. 0.53% of the population.
Proportion of people receiving maintenance advance by age group and structure of households
The two largest age groups among maintenance advance recipients are persons aged 13-17 and 6-12. The assistance rate is 2.3% and 1.9% respectively. This means that advances are primarily awarded to children but in certain cantons ex-spouses can also receive advances: for this reason all age groups are found in the following chart.
The majority of maintenance advances recipients come from single parent families with one child (52.1%) or two children (29.7%) or three children and more (9.3%). Children and young adults in one-person households represent 5.8% of all recipients. The category "others" (3.0%) is comprised of ex-spouses receiving maintenance advances as well as single parent familiies with one or more young person aged between 19 and 25.
Further information
Statistical sources and concepts
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Social WelfareEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 461 44 44