No money left: who helps?

You can no longer pay rent or food? Here you see where you get help in Luzern.

You can no longer get by with your money? Then get help early. Do not wait until many bills are unpaid.

Social assistance (Sozialhilfe)

Social assistance (Sozialhilfe) helps people in an emergency situation. It pays for the essentials: food, clothes, housing, health insurance. The amount depends on your situation.

You may be entitled to it. The social services (Sozialdienst) of your municipality check this.

In the city of Luzern

You register at the Sozial Info REX. Address: Obergrundstrasse 3, Luzern. Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 5 pm, without an appointment.

Do you live in another municipality? Then go to the social services there. It is often called Sozialberatungszentrum (SoBZ).

Important for your permit

Social assistance can have consequences for your permit. That is what the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) says. With permit B the office can review the permit.

With permit C this only applies to long-term and high social assistance. The office looks at the reason, for example illness. Get advice beforehand: FABIA or Caritas.

Emergency aid (Nothilfe)

All people in Switzerland have a right to emergency aid (Nothilfe). It secures survival. Ask the municipality or the canton.

What you can do now

  1. Go to the social counselling service (Sozialberatung) or to Caritas. Bring bills and your permit.
  2. In the city of Luzern: Sozial Info REX, Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 5 pm.
  3. Ask FABIA beforehand what this means for your permit.
  4. Unsure? Ask FABIA or the Amt für Migration. This app is not legal advice.

Stadt Luzern, Soziale Dienste: Sozialhilfe (2026-09-21)

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