Starting your professional career at the age of 20 often raises questions about the possibility of early retirement. This question, at the heart of the concerns of many French workers, deserves in-depth examination. Let's explore the conditions and realities surrounding this complex topic.
The criteria for a long career
The long career system in France aims to allow people who started working early to retire before the legal age. However, the conditions to benefit from it are strict:
- Have started professional activity before the age of 21
- Proof of a certain number of quarters contributed before the end of the calendar year of age 21
- Have accumulated all the quarters required for its generation
For those born between January and September, 5 quarters are necessary before the end of the year of 21 years. People born between October and December must provide proof of 4 quarters. In addition, you must have contributed the 172 quarters required for his generation.
These criteria, although clearly defined, may prove difficult to meet in practice. The evolution of professions and work in France has a significant impact on career paths, sometimes making the accumulation of the necessary quarters complex.
The reality of early departure
Despite the promises of the system, its implementation reveals significant disparities. Let's take the example of a person born in 1963 who started working 6 quarters before turning 21. Theoretically eligible for the new long career limit, she discovers that she will only be able to leave at age 63, or at best at 62 years and 9 months.
This case is not isolated and illustrates a growing frustration among the insured. The creation of the age limit of 21 years has created inequality between generations, effectively excluding people born before 1965 from the benefit of this measure.
| Generation | Legal age of departure | Potential starting age (long career) |
|---|---|---|
| Avant 1965 | Legal age of generation | No early departure |
| 1965 | Legal age – 3 months | Gain minime |
| 1968 and after | 64 ans | 63 ans (gain d’un an) |
The limits of the current system
The pension reform, which provoked strong reactions as evidenced by the demonstrations which paralyzed Paris, has not kept all of its promises. The new age limit for long careers, presented as compensation for the increase in the legal starting age, is proving ineffective for a significant portion of workers.
This situation creates a sentiment d’injustice among policyholders born before 1965, who are excluded from the scope of the measure. The promised advantage ultimately turns out to be inaccessible for many workers who started their careers early.
Furthermore, the rigidity of the system does not take into account the diversity of modern career paths. While the French are less and less inclined to move for a job, professional mobility remains an important factor in the accumulation of the required quarters.
Prospects for development of the system
Faced with criticism and the inequalities observed, a review of the retirement system seems inevitable. Sticking points include:
- The break of tie between generations
- The complexity eligibility conditions
- L’mismatch with the realities of the current labor market
A future reform could aim to harmonize the rules between generations and simplify the criteria access to the long career system. It would also be relevant to consider the introduction of more flexible measures, adapted to today's diverse professional careers.
While awaiting a possible revision, workers who started their career at the age of 20 must remain vigilant regarding their rights and legislative developments. It is vital to inform yourself regularly and plan your retirement taking into account current rules, while remaining aware of possible future changes.
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