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Relationship between the federal solidarity contribution and other financial entitlements and benefits

The Federal Office of Justice cannot guarantee that the following information (as of March 2025) is always up-to-date and complete. New information, if it is available in the public domain, is only added sporadically.

Compensation arising from the liability of state authorities

Anyone who has been recognised as a victim within the meaning of the CSMPA and has received the federal solidarity contribution is not, in principle, entitled to bring any further claims for compensation against the successor authorities of the local authorities involved at the time in connection with compulsory social measures and placements prior to 1981. Such claims are also likely to be time-barred.

Emergency aid payments to victims of compulsory social measures and placements

Payments that individual eligible victims received in 2015/2016 from Swiss Solidarity's emergency aid fund (or comparable financial benefits from the Canton of Vaud) are not counted as part of the federal solidarity contribution.

Compensation payments as part of the response to the ‘Vagabond Children’ (Kinder der Landstrasse) campaign

From 1988 to 1992, financial compensation totalling CHF 11 million (a maximum of CHF 20,000 per person) was paid to the victims of Pro Juventute's ‘Vagabond Children’ relief organisation from a fund that was created from general federal funds. These payments are not counted as part of the federal solidarity contribution either.

Cantonal and communal solidarity contributions for victims of compulsory social measures and placements

On 1 September 2023, the City of Zurich introduced its own communal solidarity contribution of CHF 25,000 for each victim. The eligibility requirements for this contribution are basically the same as those for the federal solidarity contribution. However, it is only paid to those persons who suffered injustice at the hands of the City of Zurich’s authorities in connection with a compulsory social measure or placement before 1981. The City of Zurich’s solidarity contribution is paid in addition to the federal solidarity contribution (i.e. to persons who have already received the federal solidarity contribution).

In a few other cantons, the introduction of a cantonal solidarity contribution is also being considered or related political processes are underway. As the FOJ is not involved in any way, no further information can be provided at this point.

As with the federal solidarity contribution, any cantonal or communal solidarity contributions are not subject to income tax, cannot be seized in debt enforcement proceedings and are not taken into account when calculating social assistance and supplementary benefits and bridging payments for older unemployed persons. However, this privileged treatment under the laws on taxation, debt enforcement, social assistance and social insurance only applies if the conditions for the award of a cantonal or communal solidarity contribution are essentially the same (in particular with regard to the definition of victim groups) as for the federal solidarity contribution.

Solidarity contribution from the Canton of Thurgau for victims of drug testing

From 1 January 2025, the Canton of Thurgau will pay a special solidarity contribution of CHF 25,000 each to patients who were given pharmaceutical test substances in a psychiatric hospital in the canton of Thurgau between 1940 and 1980. However, the eligibility requirements are not completely identical to those that apply to the federal solidarity contribution, as the solidarity contribution from the Canton of Thurgau can also be paid to persons who were not subject to a compulsory social measure or placement but were also given test substances. If a person has received this cantonal solidarity contribution, it will not count as part of the federal solidarity contribution.

Compensation payments from the Swiss Bishops' Conference

If a victim of compulsory social measures and placements has at the same time suffered sexual abuse in institutions run by the Catholic Church, they can - in addition to applying for a solidarity contribution under the CSMPA - also apply for compensation to the Commission for Compensation for Victims of Time-barred Sexual Abuse within the Church (Kommission Genugtuung für Opfer von verjährten sexuellen Übergriffen im kirchlichen Umfeld). This commission was set up by the Swiss Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Switzerland and can award compensation payments of up to CHF 20,000 in individual cases from a fund set up specifically for this purpose. These compensation payments made by the Catholic Church do not count as part of the solidarity contribution; the same applies vice versa.

(These documents are not available in English)

Salvation Army solidarity contribution

From 1 November 2024, the Salvation Army will also be offering a solidarity contribution to people who were placed and suffered abuse in children's homes or comparable institutions run by the Swiss Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has set up an independent contact centre for those affected to process applications for the contribution, which also does not count as part of the federal solidarity contribution.

Last modification 08.04.2025

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