Facts
B., born in 1929, had been employed at I. since 1960 and had been a member of its executive management as a director since 1980. For his occupational pension, he was insured with the BVG Pension Foundation of I. and the Pension Foundation of I. In accordance with an agreement reached with I., B. terminated his employment relationship effective February 29, 1992. The two pension foundations then informed B. about the old-age pensions he would receive starting from March 1992.
B. filed a lawsuit with the Insurance Court of the Canton of Zurich against the two pension foundations, requesting that they be obliged to pay him the vested benefit entitlements as of February 29, 1992, plus interest. The cantonal court dismissed the claim, as B. had terminated the employment relationship at a time when he had already been entitled to retirement benefits under the regulations.
Considerations
The Federal Insurance Court states that pursuant to Art. 13 para. 2 BVG, pension institutions may provide in their regulations that the entitlement to old-age benefits arises upon termination of employment. This is to be related to the specific employment under the employment contract with the employer…