These offices handle social benefits transactions between the individuals insured, the employers and the Central Compensation Office. The decentralised organisational structure mirrors the economic and federal structure of Switzerland:
63 union compensation offices:
Employers and self-employed individuals who belong to an association pay their contributions to one of these offices.
26 cantonal compensation offices:
Other employers and self-employed individuals as well as persons who are not gainfully employed pay their contributions directly to the cantonal compensation office at their place of domicile or residence.
2 federal compensation offices:
The Federal Compensation Office is responsible for the employees of the federal government. The Swiss Compensation Office is responsible for insured individuals who live abroad.