DI offices began to emerge in the early 90s with the third IVG revision. As a provider of invalidity insurance, they complete three key tasks:
- They support the professional integration of people with health problems.
- They establish the degree of invalidity.
- They set the amount of compensation allowed to an insured person as a result of their 'helplessness'.
DI offices are public law institutions. The cantons are responsible for establishing them, which is why the organisation of DI offices varies from canton to canton.