Pension reform: who are the French who will have to work after 64?

Since December, France has been holding its breath, pending the details of the pension reform.

The Prime Minister should normally present this bill as early as December 7 . But the government preferred to cover its back by fine-tuning its project of pension reform . Thus, Elisabeth Borne was able to meet the social partners to discuss the changes included in this text. Also, on January 3, she said to herself favorable au dialogue . “These consultations are helpful. Each time, we listen to the questions, the observations, the remarks. Discussions continue. 65 years old is not a totem. » Indeed, the question of the legal retirement age divides opinion , like the political class. The head of government finally unveiled the details of this reform this Tuesday, January 11. And everyone wonders when they can stop working .

The rules change over generations

For now, the pension reform presented by Elisabeth Borne remains at the stage of discussion in the hemicycle. Moreover, this is not the first project of this kind. Thus, in 2014, the Touraine reform should already have saved our pension system , making progressive efforts.

Also, for now, the legal retirement age has already reached 62 . And the forthcoming pension reform should push it back to 64 or 65 . But in addition to age, your pension rights are essentially based on the annuities for which you have contributed throughout your career. Thus, the system already provides a gradual increase in the retirement age . It is organized according to the years of birth of each one. And each generation must justify a certain number of quarters validated .

For example, people born between 1964 and 1966 must have contributed 169 quarters or more. On the other hand, for those born between 1967 and 1970, that figure jumps to 170 . The maximum duration to get a full pension , rises to 43 years (172 quarters) for French people born after 1973. And this is the current operation of our pension system. Even before the pension reform discussed these days.

The legal age and the number of quarters required for a full pension

But beware ! As not everyone started their career at the same time , not everyone will finish at the same age. For example, consider the case of a person born in 1975. According to the rules in force today , she will have to prove 172 quarters (43 years) to receive her full pension. Finally, the (current) pension reform will only act on the previous one.

If we take the example of an employee who started working at the age of 18, without career break , we reach 61 years. You will notice that this figure remains below the legal starting age (62). We can therefore imagine, if nothing changes, that this person will only be able to benefit from his full pension at age 62 s. Of course, this estimate does not take into account possible career breaks, without any other possibility of contributing. This example is based on a complete and continuous professional career for 43 years . Moreover, the pension reform project should not increase the required annuities.

That said, many people start their career later . In particular, those who embark on long studies. If we take the case of a person born in 1975, but having only started work full time that at 21, after graduating, the end of a career seems very different. In this example, the worker can only stop after 172 quarters to receive his full pension. He will then be 64 years old.

Following this reasoning, we understand that the legal retirement age is only of relative importance. Especially in the face of the annuities required to receive a full pension. Of our time, those who end their career without having reached the required number of terms suffer a reduction in their rights. They therefore receive lower monthly payments, to have the right to stop earlier.

Conversely, those who reach the required number of terms before the legal age must continue their career until they have reached it. In return, they benefit from an increase in their pension . And this, up to 1.25% per additional quarter validated.

Nevertheless, after age 67, the discount system disappears . However, you must have the health and physical condition necessary to work until this age. But will the pension reform upset this whole system?

Elisabeth Borne finally unveils the pension reform

In an incandescent social and political climate , the head of government preferred to communicate, playing the appeasement card. She therefore wished to reassure the French , highlighting the achievements that will not change. “We will maintain at 67 the age at which people can retire without a discount, regardless of their contribution period. (…) We are going to keep and improve the long career system by making it fairer and more readable. »

On this point, the Prime Minister even specified that those who started their career before the age of 16 will be able to leave at the age of 58 . And those who joined the world of work before the age of 18, will be able benefit from retirement from the age of 60 . That said, remember that it will be necessary to be able to justify these quarters contributed at the start of your career, to claim an earlier start e. The pension reform finally provides for a number of exceptions. Here again, it will operate a gradual decline in the legal retirement age. Coming into force before summer 2023 , it can only take effect from 2030. The date on which you will have to be 64 to leave the professional world.

More the battle promises to be difficult for the government . Indeed, a certain discontent is already rife in public opinion, but also on the side of the unions. The CFDT did not hesitate to assert its opposition in a recent leaflet “64 years old is no. This measure is brutal and deeply unfair. It will force millions of people to work more, without earning more. It is employees who started working early and/or who often have modest careers who will pay the price for this reform. Worse, there is no dramatic problem with the funding of our pension system that justifies such a measure. »

Source : The Independent