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French Pensions and Working in the UK: A Crucial Deadline Before 1 December 2026
Worked in France before continuing your career in the UK? A French pension reform could cost you dearly unless you act before 30 November 2026.
Have you worked in France before continuing your career in the United Kingdom? Even if you are not planning to retire anytime soon, a major reform could cost you tens of thousands of euros in French pension payments unless you take certain decisions before 30 November 2026.
1. Who Is Affected?
Individuals born on or before 1 March 1964, as well as those born between 1964 and 1968 who started working at a young age, may be affected — including those who have spent a significant part of their careers in the United Kingdom.
Whether you are an employee, company director or self-employed professional, you may benefit from claiming your French pensions as early as 2026, even if you intend to continue working in the UK for several more years.
Could this reform affect you?
2. Combining Employment and Pension Income: What Is Changing in France in 2027?
From 1 January 2027, French rules governing the combination of pension income and employment earnings (cumul emploi-retraite) will become significantly more restrictive.
Until the end of 2026, individuals can receive their French pensions while continuing or resuming professional activities, subject to either unrestricted or capped earnings rules.
Professional activities carried out abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom, have important specific characteristics. Where such activities fall under a foreign social security system, individuals are generally not required to cease working in order to claim their French pensions.
Depending on the pensions involved and the applicable conditions, this can create particularly favourable opportunities to combine French pension income with UK employment earnings.
From 2027, however, the new rules will fundamentally change this situation. Employment income, including earnings from professional activities carried out in the United Kingdom, may result in reductions to French pension payments.
The new framework provides for:
- Before the French statutory retirement age: pension payments may be reduced by an amount equivalent to employment earnings, potentially resulting in their complete suspension.
- Between the statutory retirement age and 67: pension payments may be reduced by 50% of employment earnings exceeding an annual threshold, currently announced at €7,000 gross.
- From age 67: individuals may combine their pensions and employment income without restrictions.
For expatriates intending to continue working in the United Kingdom while earning substantial professional income, these changes could significantly reduce the financial benefits of claiming French pensions from 2027 onwards, at least until the age of 67.
3. Delaying Your French Pension: A Potentially Costly Mistake
Many French nationals living in the United Kingdom naturally plan to postpone claiming their French pensions until they have completed their UK careers.
Their reasons are understandable: waiting until they qualify for a full-rate pension, avoiding reductions for early retirement, or continuing to increase their future monthly pension entitlements.
However, delaying retirement may prove to be a false economy.
Firstly, years worked in the United Kingdom may be taken into account when determining the rate applicable to a French pension, under international social security coordination rules.
Some individuals who believe they have not yet accumulated sufficient qualifying periods for a full-rate pension may, in fact, already meet the necessary requirements.
Secondly, even where a pension reduction genuinely applies, postponing retirement to increase monthly payments may mean giving up several years of pension income.
Consider the following example:
A professional living in the United Kingdom could receive a gross French pension of €1,500 per month from December 2026, while continuing to work in the UK under favourable rules allowing pension and employment income to be combined.
Over five years, this would represent €90,000 in gross French pension payments.
If the individual waits until 2027, their UK employment income could lead to a substantial reduction, or even the complete suspension, of their French pension payments.
They might then have to wait until the age of 67, or until they stop working, to receive their full pension entitlement.
Even if claiming a pension in 2026 results in a slightly lower monthly amount, doing so could therefore prove considerably more advantageous financially than postponing retirement.
What if you could also receive your French pension while continuing your professional activities in the United Kingdom?
Have your personal circumstances assessed before the 30 November 2026 deadline.
Book Your Complimentary Consultation
4. A Crucial Deadline: 30 November 2026
This is the most important point to remember.
In principle, having a first French basic state pension take effect before 1 January 2027 allows individuals to remain subject to the previous rules governing the combination of pension income and employment earnings, even after that date.
Conversely, where a first pension takes effect on or after 1 January 2027, the new framework will apply.
Under French pension rules, the effective date of retirement cannot precede the date on which the application is submitted and normally falls on the first day of a calendar month.
In practical terms:
- Application submitted in October 2026: a pension start date of 1 November 2026 may be possible.
- Application submitted in November 2026: a pension start date of 1 December 2026 may be possible.
- Application submitted on or after 1 December 2026: obtaining a pension start date in 2026 will no longer be possible.
To preserve the benefit of the previous rules, individuals must therefore make their decision and submit a valid pension application no later than 30 November 2026.
5. Could You Be Affected, Even with an International Career?
Two categories of individuals should carefully review their circumstances:
- Individuals born on or before 1 March 1964, who may have reached the French statutory retirement age before the end of 2026.
- Individuals born between 1964 and 1968 who started working at a young age, and who may qualify for early retirement under the French long-career provisions (carrière longue) as early as 2026.
For these age groups, periods of employment in the United Kingdom may be relevant when assessing eligibility for French pension benefits in 2026, depending on the applicable international coordination rules.
A detailed assessment of both French and UK employment histories is therefore essential.
Not knowing whether you are eligible to claim a French pension in 2026 does not necessarily mean that you are not eligible.
6. Just a Few Weeks to Make the Right Decision
This does not mean that every expatriate should immediately claim their French pensions.
Each individual situation requires a careful comparison of pension entitlements available in 2026 and 2027, potential reductions, UK employment earnings and long-term financial consequences.
However, one thing is clear: allowing the 30 November 2026 deadline to pass without examining this opportunity could prove extremely costly.
CONSILIO — French and International Pension Expertise
CONSILIO is an independent advisory firm specialising in French and international pension rights and retirement strategies.
Our team of legal and pension experts can assist you with:
- Assessing your eligibility to claim a French pension as early as 2026.
- Reviewing, reconstructing and securing your pension entitlements in France and the United Kingdom.
- Comparing retirement strategies and identifying the potential financial benefits of claiming your French pension before 2027.
- Optimising the combination of French pension income and UK employment earnings.
- Providing expert assistance throughout the French pension application and retirement process.
Do not simply settle for what you are offered. Make sure you receive everything you are entitled to.
Book a complimentary, personalised initial consultation with Thomas ZAMOLO, President of CONSILIO and a legal expert specialising in international pensions with 15 years of experience.