Will France top up UK pension?
WE MOVED to France intending to live on our pensions but we are struggling due to the exchange rate fall. Would we be entitled to any benefits or state support of any kind (whether from the UK or France)? T.I.
Generally speaking, you need to have contributed to the French social welfare system to benefit from it. As for benefits you may be eligible to from the UK, these are mostly limited to disability benefits and not income support.
In Connexion’s experience, however, some readers have been able to obtain Aspa, a French ‘pension top-up’, even if they have not paid into the system (a body called Saspa deals with this: click here for the website) as long as they can demonstrate that they have lived full-time in France for more than three months.
Having said this, it is a grey area because, in theory, for EU citizens who are not in work the right to live in France legally in the first five years may be subject to ‘not being a burden’ on the French welfare system and France is entitled to require income above the level to obtain ASPA in order to meet this requirement. We are not, however, aware of this being strictly applied. The international social security advisory centre Cleiss (www.cleiss.fr) may be able to advise on your situation.
Different rules apply to non-EU nationals, who are only entitled to ASPA if they have lived in France for at least 10 years during which they were authorised to work.
Older people on low incomes may also be able to obtain some assistance from the departmental council, called aide sociale, aimed at helping people stay in their own homes. Both this and ASPA may be recuperated from your estate after you die. More information can be obtained from your mairie (in large cities ask for the Centre communal d’action sociale).
Reader's query answered by Hugh MacDonald
If you have a money query send it to news@connexionfrance.com We select questions for answer every edition
The information here is of a general nature. You should not act or refrain from acting on it without taking professional advice on the specific facts of your case.
No liability is accepted in respect of this article. It is intended only as a general guide. Nothing herein constitutes actual financial advice.
The Connexion welcomes queries and publishes a selection with answers every edition. However, please note that we cannot enter into correspondence on money topics. Queries may be edited for length and style. Due to the sensitive nature of topics we do not publish full names or addresses on these pages.
