Swiss Federal Council ⁣Sets Funding for Elderly and Disabled Assistance

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — The Swiss Federal Council⁢ has earmarked a maximum of 96.4 million francs⁤ for ⁢contributions benefiting the elderly for the period ‍spanning 2026-2029. ⁤The declaration ⁣came following the council’s weekly session, officials said Wednesday.

Allocation Breakdown

The funds are ⁢to be ⁣divided between organizations providing assistance to the elderly and private entities offering services to disabled individuals with age-related health issues. According to the ⁢executive branch, a maximum of‍ 76.4 million francs is designated for elderly assistance organizations, a ⁣slight increase from the‍ current 72 million francs.⁢ private organizations aiding the disabled will receive 20 million francs, an ⁢amount that remains unchanged.

Demographic Shifts Drive⁤ Funding

The Federal Council is required to⁤ set the maximum available amount every four years, following a revision to the old age⁣ and survivors’ insurance order that took effect in 2022. ‍Projections from the Federal Office of Social Insurance (UFAS)⁤ indicate a meaningful increase in the need for elderly assistance due to demographic aging.

Future Refinements

Officials noted the importance of improving the databases used for these projections to refine forecasts for the next funding decision in 2029.⁢ The⁤ council emphasized that demographic trends necessitate a ⁢continuous ⁣evaluation and ⁤adjustment of support mechanisms for the elderly and disabled populations.