Art. 29 Payment and reimbursement
1 The pension is paid monthly, each until the 20th of the month. The full pension is paid for the month in which the entitlement expires. Any lump-sum benefits fall due 30 days after the occurrence of the insured event, at the earliest 30 days after the Pension Fund is informed thereof by the entitled person and has received the details necessary for the transfer. In addition, the Pension Fund does not owe interest on the lump-sum benefits for the period in which the required approval of the spouse has not been provided.
2 The insured members are obliged to support the benefits clarification and make any requested documentation available to the Pension Fund. In particular, the Pension Fund can request a certificate of existence from the insured member entitled to benefits at any time. Beneficiaries with a place of residence abroad must submit a notarised certificate of existence to the Pension Fund each year unsolicited. If these documents are not submitted, the Pension Fund will not pay benefits or will cease to make payments.
3 The place of payment of the benefits is the registered office of the Pension Fund. Pension Fund payments are made to the payment address in Switzerland or abroad notified by the beneficiary. Pension Fund payments are always made in Swiss francs. Transaction costs incurred outside the sender bank, for example because payment is made to a bank abroad, as well as any exchange rate fees/losses, are charged to the beneficiary.
4 Benefits paid out in error must be paid back. If the payments were received in good faith and a hardship situation exists, repayment may be waived without the insured member being entitled to such a waiver. The criteria of hardship are based on the rules set out in legislation regarding AHV/IV complementary benefits.
5 For both the Pension Fund and the insured member, the default interest rate is set at the same level as the BVG minimum interest rate. This shall be without prejudice to the interest and default interest rate policy for the vested early leaver benefits pursuant to Art. 2 Paras. 3 and 4 of the FZG.
6 pension fund benefits cannot be assigned or pledged before they become due. Pledging in the context of the promoting home ownership remains reserved. Entitlement to benefits can only be offset against claims assigned by the employer to the pension fund if these claims are contributions that have not been deducted from the salary.
7 The provisions of Art. 35a and Art. 41 BVG apply to the reimbursement of benefits received unduly and the limitation period for claims.
8 If the pension fund receives an official notification that an insured person has neglected his or her maintenance obligation, it may only grant lump-sum payments, cash payments andearly withdrawals and pledges for home ownership within the scope of Art. 40 BVG.