Spouse Pension in France

Death in France

This guide has been prepared in collaboration with France based English speaking volunteer group Bereavement Support Network (BSN). BSN helps English speaking residents throughout France to manage their bereavement or terminal illness. You can contact BSN by mail at [email protected] or via their website at Bereavement Support Network.

7. Spouse's Pension in France

The surviving spouse of a former business owner or employee in France may have an entitlement to a spouse's pension, although it is often a modest one.

The pension is called a pension de reversion, and may comprise a basic pension and one or more complementary pensions, depending on the pension schemes to which the deceased was affiliated.

There are also separate pension rights for a surviving spouse under 55 years of age and social security rights that apply to family members of a salaried person who died as a result of an accident at work or occupational illness.

7.1. Basic Pension

The basic pension is called the pension de réversion du régime de base.

Entitlement to this pension is subject to four main conditions:

i. Marital Status - First, it is payable only to the surviving married spouse or former spouse of a business owner or salaried employee. Those in a civil partnership (PACS) or who were living in free union (concubinage) have no entitlement to the basic pension de réversion.

ii. Deceased Entitlement - Second, an entitlement exists where the deceased spouse was receiving, or would have been entitled to receive, a pension under the relevant basic retirement scheme.

iii. Minimum Age - Third, the surviving spouse must generally be at least 55 years of age, although below this age they may be entitled to other forms of financial support. See below at Section 7.4.

iv. Personal Income - Finally, entitlement to the basic pension is subject to a test of resources. If the survivor's resources exceed the applicable ceiling, the pension is reduced rather than necessarily being lost altogether. In 2025 the figure was €24,710. The ceiling is revised each year.

The amount of the basic pension is 54% of the pension which the deceased spouse was receiving or would have been entitled to receive, excluding certain increases. The amount can be reduced according to the survivor's resources.

There is a minimum pension of €334.92 per month, provided the deceased had accumulated at least 60 quarters under the relevant basic scheme. If they had fewer than 60 quarters, the minimum is reduced proportionally.

The minimum amount is revised annually.

There is also a possible additional majoration forfaitaire for survivors aged at least 65 who meet the relevant conditions concerning their total retirement income. This is a separate increase and does not mean that the basic pension de réversion itself rises from 54% to 60%. In 2026 the increase is €334.92 per year, or €27.91 per month.

7.2. Complementary Pension

The complementary pension is called the pension de réversion du régime complémentaire.

By definition, it is granted in addition to the basic pension, where the deceased was affiliated to a complementary pension scheme.

The conditions that apply will depend on the insurance regime to which the deceased spouse was affiliated, although the following rules apply in many cases.

For the complementary pension of self-employed workers (retraite complémentaire des indépendants - RCI), entitlement is generally from the age of 55 years, on condition of being married to, or having been married to, the deceased.

The amount payable is 60% of the complementary pension which the deceased was receiving or would have been entitled to receive.

The income ceiling for the RCI complementary pension is considerably higher than that applying to the basic pension. From 1 January 2026 the applicable resource ceiling is €96,120 per year, or €8,010 per month.

Once again, as with the basic pension, the detailed rules concerning resources and the treatment of different forms of income depend on the pension regime concerned.

In certain pension funds there is no means testing.

It should not be assumed from these figures that the amount of the pension will be high; unless the deceased made substantial pension contributions over a long period, the level of the complementary pension is relatively modest.

7.3. Application Process

The pension is not granted automatically.

An application should be made as soon as possible. The date from which the pension is payable can depend on when the application is made, and there are specific rules concerning the date from which the pension can be backdated.

A single online application can generally be used to apply for a pension de réversion from the relevant basic and complementary pension schemes.

You can make an application through the Demander une retraite de réversion service provided by the French pension authorities.

7.4. Allocation de Veuvage

If the surviving spouse is under 55 years of age and they are not entitled to a pension de réversion, they may still be entitled to financial support from the French State.

The benefit is called the allocation de veuvage.

It is payable subject to conditions, including the survivor's age, marital circumstances and resources. The deceased must also have been covered by the relevant French social security scheme.

Your resources must remain below the applicable ceiling. In 2026, the maximum allocation de veuvage is €719.58 per month, with the resource ceiling calculated over the relevant three-month period.

You must apply within two years of the death of your spouse, although there are special rules concerning the starting date of payment where the application is made promptly.

The amount of the allocation de veuvage is a maximum of €719.58 per month in 2026. The actual amount may be reduced according to the survivor's resources.

The benefit is payable only until the survivor reaches 55 years of age, at which point they may potentially qualify for a pension de réversion if the other conditions are satisfied.

You should make an application to the retirement fund to which your spouse was affiliated, or can apply using the Demande d'allocation de veuvage form.

7.5. Accident at Work/Occupational Illness

In the event of the death of an employee following an accident at work or an occupational disease, certain relatives of the deceased may receive a pension, known as a rente d'ayant droit.

This pension is not automatically granted; you must apply for it.

The pension is subject to different conditions depending on the beneficiary or beneficiaries concerned.

The pension may be allocated to the:

Married spouse Common-law partner Partner in a civil partnership (PACS) Children of the deceased Ascendants of the deceased

For a surviving spouse, common-law partner or PACS partner, the relationship must normally have existed before the accident or, where this condition is not met, for at least two years before the death. This two-year condition does not apply where the couple has a child.

Children are entitled to a pension generally until the age of 20, subject to the applicable conditions.

For a surviving spouse, common-law partner or PACS partner, the amount of the annuity is normally 40% of the deceased's annual salary. This can be increased to 60% where the surviving partner has reached the age of 55 or has a recognised incapacity of at least 50%. (Ameli)

The amounts payable to children and ascendants are calculated according to separate rules and can depend on the number of beneficiaries.

The total amount of the various pensions is subject to statutory limits, so the amount payable to one beneficiary can be affected where other beneficiaries are also entitled.

In order to make an application, you need to contact the local health authority (CPAM).