Pensions: government revises its copy on family and marital rights

Pension bonus automatically allocated to mothers, prorated reversion pension for the ex-wives of a deceased pensioner ... The government announced on Friday February 14 the " developments " it intends to bring to its pension reform in terms of rights family and marriage so that " they can really benefit women ".

Read also: Children, survivor's pension ... What will change concretely for women's pensions

" Various amendments will be presented in public session at the National Assembly, from next week ," announced the Secretaries of State Sibeth N'Diaye (government spokesperson) Marlène Schiappa (Equality between women and men), Christelle Dubos (Solidarités) and Laurent Pietraszewski (Retraites).

The bill under consideration provides for a pension subsidy of 5% for each child, otherwise allocated to the mother, unless the parents decide to share it. Or even grant it to the father, which feminist organizations fear, insofar as men often earn a better living than women.

In response, the government is proposing " the compulsory allocation of half of the family rights to the mother on the grounds of maternity, with no possibility of sharing ", announced Christelle Dubos, after a "working session " with majority deputies in the Ministry of Solidarity. Thus, each birth will entitle the mother to an increase of 2.5%. The remaining 2.5%, granted for the education of the child, will remain shareable and allocated by default to the mother.

In addition, low-income women will be able to benefit from a “ minimum guarantee of retirement points ”, the increase of 2.5% per child not being less than a minimum package “ defined by decree and granted subject to a minimum working time, ”said Christelle Dubos.

Women who raise their children alone will get " extra points ".

Regarding conjugal rights, the principle of a survivor's pension, accessible from 55 years of age, and allowing the surviving spouse - a woman in nine out of ten cases - to " keep 70% of the couple's retirement rights ", will be maintained, said Laurent Pietraszewski.

Read also: Pension reform: the reversion of divorced in question

New, divorced women will be able to receive " 55% of the pension " of the deceased " who will be prorated to the duration of marriage, relative to the duration of contribution, and subject to means test ", he announced , stressing that this device would replace " the order " provided for in the bill.