Retirement and survivor’s pensions are critical concerns in France, influenced by recent government discussions on pension financing. The survivor’s pension, available to spouses and eligible divorced partners, provides financial support after a partner’s death, predominantly benefiting women. With specific eligibility criteria and a minimum monthly amount, the process requires an active application. The government also allows for sharing pensions among multiple beneficiaries in cases of remarriage, calculated based on marriage duration.
Retirement and Survivor’s Pension in France: A Growing Concern
The topic of retirement for the French population has become a pressing issue for the government, especially following the recent discussions surrounding the Budget 2025 initiated by François Bayrou’s administration. A significant part of this conversation revolves around the financing of pensions, heavily influenced by workers’ contributions through the established solidarity system. Additionally, there are vital considerations regarding the conditions that allow elderly individuals to remain at home, healthy and supported. In fact, the Minister of Labor has proposed the idea of taxing higher pensions, specifically those ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 euros, to help restore financial equilibrium within Social Security.
Understanding Survivor’s Pensions
When a spouse passes away, the surviving partner may still receive a portion of their pension through a survivor’s pension, provided by Health Insurance. This benefit is available to widows and widowers under specific conditions, such as being at least 55 years old and having been married to the deceased individual. Interestingly, even divorced spouses can qualify for this pension, regardless of their current living situation, as long as they meet the necessary criteria.
Last year, approximately 2.8 million individuals benefited from survivor’s pensions, with a striking 91.5% of these recipients being women. Data from Health Insurance indicates that among these beneficiaries, 680,185 were not eligible for any direct payments, and 95.37% of those were also women. This trend can be attributed to the fact that women, on average, live longer than men in France, with current life expectancies reported at 85.6 years for women compared to 80 years for men, as per Insee statistics.
The survivor’s pension is calculated as 54% of the pension the deceased spouse was receiving or eligible to receive, with a minimum of 332 euros per month, resulting in a yearly minimum of 3,989 euros. As reported by Health Insurance, the average monthly amount for survivor’s pensions is slightly higher at 406 euros, reflecting a recent increase of 2.2% that took effect on January 1, 2025. To qualify for this pension, individuals must have an annual income not exceeding 24,710.40 euros for single applicants and 39,536.64 euros for those living with a partner.
The process of obtaining a survivor’s pension is not automatic; individuals must actively apply through Health Insurance. This can be conveniently done online via the official Info retraite website, where applicants can follow clear instructions and submit the necessary documentation. This online service streamlines the application process for all basic and complementary pension schemes associated with the deceased spouse or ex-spouse.
In cases where the deceased person was remarried, the government also allows for the survivor’s pension to be divided among multiple beneficiaries. The allocation is determined proportionally based on the duration of each marriage, using the dates recorded in civil status documents. If the surviving spouse and previous ex-spouses do not meet the eligibility criteria simultaneously, the pension shares are calculated based on the first beneficiary who applies. These shares are then disbursed as the beneficiaries fulfill the conditions required to receive them.