The increase in small pensions will increase the social security gap by 400 million in 2023.

Before balancing the accounts, the pension reform will start by worsening them. The revaluation of the small pensions envisaged by the project will increase the social security deficit by 400 million euros, according to the latest version of the bill, a copy of which AFP received on Wednesday.

Less than a month after the release of the 2023 budget, which declared a deficit of 7.1 billion euros, the government revised its forecast to 7.5 billion in a social security funding bill submitted to the Council of State.

The difference of 400 million, carried out at the expense of old age and justified by the “first consequences of all measures to reform the pension system” included in this text, in particular, “the reassessment of the minimum pension for pensioners with already liquidated their pension rights and for new pensioners.”

Pension at least 1200 euros gross

The executive has indeed promised that a full career – that is, 43 years of contributions – will entitle a pension of at least €1,200 gross per month, or 85% of the net minimum wage, when the measure takes effect on 1 September. . The first draft, sent to the State Council last week, reflected that commitment to future retirees, a quarter of whom (about 200,000 a year) are expected to benefit from the change.

But Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne said the measure would also be extended to current retirees – “nearly 2 million” should benefit from it – in a bill to be presented to the Council of Ministers on January 23.

Notably, as the latest revision confirms that “pensions from the general scheme for active retirees who will be liquidated before September 1, 2023, will be revalued” to “100 euros per month for insured persons who have actually contributed to a completed career”, not being able to exceed the 85% Smic threshold “fairly with new retirees”.