France expands retirement benefits for non‑workers, early retirees and couples in care

People who have never held a paid job in France can still obtain a pension through specific schemes. The Assurance vieillesse des aidants (AVA) may credit retirement quarters for those caring for a disabled relative, while the minimum-income benefit (ASPA) and a possible pension of reversion can provide income after a spouse’s death. Rights depend on individual career history, household resources and the timing of any application.

Separate provisions allow early retirement without the usual 1.25 % quarterly penalty. The “long‑career” rule lets workers who began before age 16 retire up to four years early at full rate, and the progressive retirement scheme, which lets employees work part‑time from age 60 while receiving a proportion of their pension, has almost doubled its beneficiaries between mid‑2025 and mid‑2026. The August 2026 Agirc‑Arrco complementary pension will be paid on Monday 3 August because the 1st falls on a Saturday.

Retirees whose spouse is placed in an EHPAD or faces hospitalization, death or divorce can request a one‑off assistance of up to €1 800 from the CNAV, called the “Aide aux retraités en situation de rupture” (ASIR), to cover home‑care services or minor home‑adaptations.