Answer
Double payments of family allowances are not allowed. When several individuals are eligible for a family allowance for the same child, this is referred to as a “concurring claim”. In such instances, the parents may not decide which of them will receive the family allowance. The decision is made according to the following order of precedence:
- If both parents have joint custody of, and live with, the child (which is the mostly the case for married parents), it is the parent who works in the family’s canton of residence who claims the allowance. If both parents work in their canton of residence, or if neither do, the allowance is paid out to the parent with the highest income on which they pay statutory OASI contribution.
- If only one parent has sole custody, their entitlement to the allowance takes precedence.
- If both parents have joint custody of the child but do not live together, the allowance will be paid out to the parent with whom the child lives.