France pension boost for mothers delayed due to technical issues

A reform intended to increase retirement pensions for mothers in France has faced a technical delay. While new decrees aimed to improve how child-rearing affects pension calculations starting September 1, 2026, the Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse (CNAV) announced that its computer systems are not yet ready to implement the change.

The reform changes the calculation basis from the 25 best-paid years to 24 years for parents of one child, and 23 years for parents of two or more children. This adjustment is designed to mitigate the impact of lower-earning periods often associated with parental leave or part-time work, with an estimated average pension increase of 1.3%.

Due to the technical setback, affected individuals will continue to receive pensions based on the old 25-year calculation for now. The CNAV expects to implement the update and provide backdated corrections by the second quarter of 2027. The process is expected to be handled automatically without requiring action from retirees.