Federal court changes practice Obesity now generally qualifies for an IV pension

SDA

21.11.2024 - 13:25

Uli Deck/dpa

In the past, severe obesity was considered "surmountable", so an IV pension was generally not granted. However, the Federal Supreme Court has now changed its case law.

Keystone-SDA

The treatability of severe obesity no longer precludes entitlement to a disability insurance pension from the outset Overweight people could soon receive a disability pension: This has been decided by the Federal Supreme Court. It is thus adapting its case law on entitlement to disability benefits for obesity.

The treatability of severe obesity no longer precludes entitlement to a disability insurance pension from the outset. This was decided by the Federal Supreme Court. It is thus adapting its case law on entitlement to disability insurance benefits for obesity.

In a ruling published on Thursday, the Federal Supreme Court took into account the fact that obesity is a chronic, complex physical illness. The case law should therefore be changed to the effect that the basic treatability does not per se preclude a pension claim.

According to the court, the question of how the illness has a limiting effect on benefits must be asked in each individual case. However, even in the case of obesity, there is an obligation to minimize the damage. In this sense, entitlement to an IV pension presupposes that the person concerned undertakes reasonable dietary or drug therapies, behavioral therapies or exercise programs.