France: AAH recipients face low pensions and limited retirement benefits

In France, people who have received the Allocation aux Adultes Handicapés (AAH) throughout their lives do not accrue pension rights. When they reach the legal retirement age of 62, they transition to a disability retirement with a pension that is often less than half of the average amount. Without sufficient contributions, many rely on the Allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées (ASPA), which provides roughly €1,012 per month for a single person.

The French retirement system is also changing: the legal retirement age is being raised gradually to 64, and a full-rate pension still requires enough quarters of contributions. ASPA can be claimed from age 65, or from 62 in cases of severe disability, offering a safety net but not fully compensating for the low AAH‑related pensions.