Like private sector employees, non-permanent state and public authority agents rely on France's general social security system (CNAV) for their basic pension. For supplementary coverage, they participate in Ircantec, a trusted points-based pension scheme designed specifically for this group.
Established by decree in December 1970, the Institutional Retirement Complementary Scheme for Non-Permanent State and Public Authority Agents (Ircantec) provides essential additional retirement benefits. It complements the basic pension from the National Old-Age Insurance Fund (CNAV), ensuring comprehensive coverage for workers without civil servant status employed by the state or public bodies.
Ircantec operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, where active contributors' payments fund retirees' pensions. Benefits are determined through a transparent points system, reflecting decades of reliable service to millions of public sector workers.
Non-tenured public sector employees—including contract workers, temporary staff, and others without permanent status in state, territorial, or hospital civil services—must contribute to Ircantec. This applies regardless of executive status, from age 16 onward while actively employed under these conditions.
The scheme also covers those on subsidized contracts, part-time permanent staff without full pension rights, government members (ministers and secretaries of state), hospital practitioners, and local elected officials. As of 2017, nearly 3 million workers contributed to Ircantec.
Full-rate basic pension recipients qualify for Ircantec supplementary payments. This includes those reaching the legal retirement age (65-67), early retirees due to long careers, hardship, disability, or progressive retirement with part-time work alongside benefits.
Those not meeting full conditions face a pension reduction via fewer points. Surviving spouses of contributors may receive 50% of the pension, typically if aged 50 or older at the contributor's death.
Ircantec uses a points-based system. Both employee and employer contributions convert to points valued at €5.028 (2021 reference salary, revalued annually). Points accumulate in your personal online account for easy tracking.
Your pension equals total points multiplied by the point value at retirement. Payouts vary—monthly, quarterly, annually, or as a lump-sum capital—based on points earned.
Bonuses boost points: +10% for 3 children (up to +30% for 7+), +0.625% for working post-full eligibility, or +0.75% per quarter beyond legal age.
Note: Non-working periods may earn free points, including sick/maternity/adoption leave (Social Security compensated for 30+ days), work accident pensions (≥2/3 incapacity), partial unemployment, or child-rearing breaks (with 1+ year prior affiliation).
