Many retirees are unaware that basic and supplementary pension funds offer valuable assistance, especially for housing. From expert guidance and prevention resources to technical and financial support for home modifications, these funds provide essential tools through dedicated social action programs, helping retirees enhance and adapt their living spaces for greater comfort and safety.
Most retirees prefer aging in place. Yet, as mobility declines due to age, illness, or disability—particularly when living alone—daily tasks can become challenging.
Fortunately, targeted home modifications can often make this possible, helping avoid relocation to a care facility.
Basic and supplementary pension funds play a crucial role here. Many provide affiliates with practical aids to optimize home layouts and promote long-term independence.
This starts with informational resources, such as prevention kits detailing proven measures and adaptations to suit health needs, prevent autonomy loss, and ease home navigation.
Examples include bathroom and toilet renovations, heating repairs or installations, energy-efficient insulation, roller shutters, remote alarms, grab bars, and non-slip stairs.
Much of this guidance is accessible on pourbienvieillir.fr, a resource from Public Health France in partnership with Pension Insurance, CNRACL, and MSA.
Beyond information, funds connect retirees with building professionals and offer tailored financial aid based on work scope and individual resources.
Such support may include services like Assistance for Retirees in Rupture Situations (Asir) or Assistance for Returning Home After Hospitalization (ARDH).
Note: Retirement Insurance (basic scheme) financial aid excludes those receiving Specific Dependency Benefit (PSD), Personalized Autonomy Allowance (APA), Third-Person Compensatory Allowance (ACTP), Disability Compensation Benefit (PCH), or Third-Person Increase (MTP), as well as those in foster families.
In addition to adaptation support, pension funds extend financial help for sudden, unforeseen hardships like theft, assault, fraud, exploitation, or natural disasters.
For housing, this can cover moving expenses from such events or one-time rent arrears (not chronic debt), paid directly to landlords.
Pension funds, including Retirement Insurance, may also assist with energy bills (gas, electricity, heating) under three months old for primary residences in qualifying sudden-difficulty cases.
