“The system should expand” – L’Express

Marina Rouxel: Several devices exist, starting with gradual retirement. It allows any employee to switch to part-time at the end of their career, with a duration ranging from 40 to 80% of full time, while also receiving part of their pension. It is possible to benefit from it two years before the legal retirement age provided you have accumulated at least 150 quarters. With the reform, this mechanism will gradually be shifted to 62 years.

Gradual retirement is interesting for those who want to start taking their foot off the gas without suffering too significant a loss of income, especially since companies often offer their employees the opportunity to continue to contribute 100% for retirement, whether helping them or not. . In the absence of such assistance, one must keep in mind that the amount of one’s pension will be less.

Why is progressive retirement still little used?

Firstly because it has been little promoted and is therefore relatively little known to both employees and employers. However, as soon as we talk to them about it, they show interest. It should gain momentum with the increase in the legal age, especially since Covid, employees want to leave as soon as possible, regardless of their position in the hierarchy. In addition, the employer now has less latitude to refuse a request for progressive retirement: he must prove that it is incompatible with the smooth running of his business.

What is the difference with the combination of employment and retirement ?

Combining employment and retirement gives the possibility, once one’s pensions have been paid, to return to work and accumulate two incomes. It is still entirely possible to work full-time. This system was adapted by the reform.

Is buying back quarters the ideal solution to leave early?

This possibility is not open to everyone because you must have reached the required number of quarters after the legal retirement age. For example, a person born in 1970 must be 64 years old and 172 quarters old to receive full coverage. If this is not the case, she will have to take a reduction, continue to work or buy back quarters – up to 12, provided that she has years of study or incomplete years.

This mechanism is interesting for those who want to leave earlier – particularly executives, who have completed extensive studies. But be careful: their pension will be lower because they will have contributed less. Another element to take into consideration: the cost, of the order of 4,500 to 6,500 euros per quarter, deductible from taxable income. Note that some companies offer to finance part of the buyout for their employees.

So my advice is not to start too early. With the latest reform, some employees find themselves in a Kafkaesque situation: they bought back quarters in order to be able to leave at 62 but must still continue to work beyond this age! They can barely be reimbursed if they request it before April 2025.

The prerequisite for these systems is to carry out a retirement assessment. When can we consider it?

The retirement assessment allows you to have a clear vision of the amount you will receive and the actual date of full retirement. You have to start well in advance – ideally from the age of 57. This is a very relevant tool as no less than 40% of career statements contain errors! And even if the pension funds carry out verification work during liquidation, the Court of Auditors estimates that 15% of the pensions paid are erroneous. Getting started early allows you to find missing information or find documents that are sometimes several decades old.