Find out what you put up as security
A pledge can provide security without an immediate pension withdrawal. But the agreement may identify the current balance, a right to a future benefit or some other defined interest. The Federal Social Insurance Office distinguishes between enforcement against different forms of security and when a pension benefit becomes due. If you run into trouble, start with the signed pledge document, rather than relying on the summary of collateral on the first page of the mortgage agreement.
A pledge is not the same as a payment
Signing a pledge does not mean that any money has already been paid out. Ask the lender whether you are dealing with a reminder, a request for additional security or enforcement and which term it relies on. Ask your foundation or insurer what it has recorded, the amount involved and what evidence it needs. The timing and method of enforcement can depend on the agreement and applicable law. Do not treat one letter from a bank as a timetable that applies to every pledge.
Example: one security, two balances
Suppose your 3a holds CHF 55,000, the pledge is capped at CHF 30,000 and the lender receives CHF 25,000 in a hypothetical enforcement. Ignoring market movements and fees, CHF 30,000 would remain in the 3a. In a separate statement, ask the lender to confirm how much of the payout reduces principal and how much covers any other amounts due. Do not expect cash in your current account: in this example the money goes to the creditor. The change to the retirement balance is a separate financial consequence.
Give tax its own line
Setting up a pledge and enforcing it later are different events. If there is a payout, ask the institution what certificate it will issue and the tax authority how to treat the amount, particularly if you will receive other pension benefits in the same year. Even if the payout goes towards a debt, leave room for any resulting tax bill. If the loan is already in difficulty, raise those questions before your next annual tax return comes due.
What to gather before a negotiation
Put together the pledge agreement, the latest mortgage statement, the notices received and the current 3a value. Ask what options remain: a revised payment schedule, alternative security or another arrangement the bank is willing to accept. If you move the loan or consider selling, get written confirmation of what would happen to each pledge. This gives you actual figures to compare without assuming your retirement savings will be unaffected.
Sources & further reading
OFAS / FSIO — Bulletins de la prévoyance professionnelle, réalisation du gage