Pension ABC


A. Starting or changing my job

A1. When would I be registered with the statutory pension system in France?

With the exception of posted workers, any salaried activity performed in France generates the creation of a personal pension account on which your pension rights in the different statutory schemes will be registered.

If you work for some years as a researcher in France, you’ll have pension rights in Cnav (basic scheme) and Agirc-Arrco (compulsory complementary scheme for the private sector), or in Cnav and Ircantec (compulsory complementary scheme for the public sector).

You can check your pension account simply by registering on any pension scheme website where you have contributed with your French national social security number.


A2. Who pays the contributions?

The contributions are paid by the employer and the employee pro rata. Your employer will discharge the contributions. Your pay slips inform you of the amount of those contributions.


A3. Can I claim for a refund of my contributions if I leave France again?

Currently, it is not possible.


A4. Can I pay voluntary contributions?

Yes, if you have worked outside of France, you can contact the Caisse de Francais de I´Ètranger.


A5. Are my times of pension insurance in France taken into account in other countries and vice versa?

If you have worked only inside the European Union, all your pension insurance periods in European compulsory schemes will be recognized by the French compulsory schemes and vice versa.

If you have worked in a country with which France has concluded an international agreement (33 countries) and if you are concerned by this agreement there will be recognition of the times of pension insurance in this country in the French schemes specified in the agreement and vice versa.

More details are available on www.cleiss.fr


A6. What should I do before leaving France with regard to my statutory pension?

You don’t need to declare anything. Just keep all your pay slips.

If you want to have an idea of the pension rights you stored in France, register on any French pension scheme’s website where you have contributions and check your personal pension rights account (RIS for Relevé individual de situation).


B. My pension benefits

B1. What benefits and services does the French state pension scheme provide?

French pension schemes provide mainly old-age and survivors pensions. Concerning disability pensions, before the legal retirement age, health schemes are in charge of those requests.


B2. Is there a qualifying period for my statutory retirement pension in France?

It’s not necessary to fulfill a minimum time. The minimum amount required to qualify for a pension is a salary of 150 hours minimum income (1.441,50 € in 2015).


B3. Are my times of pension insurance in France taken into account in other countries and vice versa?

If you have worked only inside the European union, all your pension insurance periods in European compulsory schemes will be recognized by the French compulsory schemes and vice versa.

If you have worked in a country with which France has concluded an international agreement (33 countries) and if you are concerned by this agreement there will be recognition of the times of pension insurance in this country in the French schemes specified in the agreement and vice versa.

More details are available on www.cleiss.fr


B4. How high will my state pension entitlements acquired in France be?

At any age, you can have an idea of the amount of your future pension with the online pension simulation tool: m@rel (www.marel.fr).

From the age of 55, you can claim online for an estimation of your future pension amount calculated with all the rights registered in the French pension schemes. This document is called EIG for Estimation indicative globale. Your pension will be calculated with a full rate if you have between 41 and 43 years of insurance period (depending on your birth year) or if you claim for your pension after the age of 67 years. Please send your claim 6 months before your retirement age. (see question "Are my times of pension insurance in France taken into account in other countries and vice versa?" above).


C. Nearing retirement

C1. When can I claim for my statutory pension in France?

Retirement age in France is 62 years for people born in 1955 and after. You can retire earlier under certain conditions. Your pension will be calculated with a full rate if you have between 41 and 43 years of insurance period (depending on your birth year) or if you claim for your pension after the age of 67 years. Please send your claim 6 months before your retirement age.


C2. Where do I apply for a pension if I do not live in France?

If you live in a country with which France has no social agreement, you must submit a claim at the regional pension office of your last working place in France.


C3. Can I apply for a state pension in France if I’m still working in another country?

Under the European regulations, once you submit a claim, your pension will be claimed at the same time from all of the schemes under which you have worked, unless:

  • you specifically request to defer your pension in one of the countries;
  • you do not meet all of the criteria to claim your pension in the other countries at the same time.

C4. Does my work in another country affect my pension entitlements and the beginning of my retirement in France?

Outside the European Union, you must refer to the terms of each bilateral social security agreement.

Before applying for your pension in France, check on the consequences with your health insurance.


C5. How will the pension be paid out?

Pensions are not paid out automatically. You must submit a claim at the pension office in your country of residence or at the pension office in the country where you were last employed. By virtue of the European coordination regulations, a liaison form will be forwarded to each European compulsory pension scheme to which you have paid contributions.