The French government announced on Wednesday, August 5, that two new measures improving pension calculations for mothers will take effect in September 2026. The rules, included in the 2026 Social Security budget, aim to better account for children in pension calculations and expand access to early retirement.
Social partners originally proposed the measures during a pension conclave in the summer of 2025 before lawmakers included them in the 2026 Social Security financing bill. Following a decree published on Saturday, the Ministry of Labor confirmed in a statement that the changes will take effect in September as planned.
According to the ministry, the measures will primarily benefit women, who continue to receive lower pensions than men because of more frequent career breaks, part-time work, and persistent pay gaps.
Career years and early retirement
Previously, quarters granted for having children did not automatically increase pension amounts. Under the new rules, the reference salary for parents with one child who earned pension quarters will be calculated using their best 24 career years instead of 25. For parents with two or more children, the reference salary will be calculated using their best 23 years. The ministry said this change will increase pension amounts for more than one in two women.
In addition, women who gained extra contributed quarters through their children may apply up to two of those quarters toward retiring before the legal age under the long-career scheme. Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said in the statement that the choices bring fairness by recognizing the impact of parenthood on careers, raising pensions for women, and making early retirement rules more equitable.
