Retirement in the public service: why these civil servants benefit very little from their pension

The life expectancy of certain agents of the hospital and territorial public service is drastically reduced. Among other causes, more difficult working conditions.

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They worked all their lives, but have only too little time to take advantage of their retirement. Agents of the territorial and hospital public service forced to leave for disability see their life expectancy with shortened retirement. A particularly striking observation for Category C agentswho are “4 to 5 times more numerous” That those in category A has to leave their activity for health reasons, according to a study by the Caisse des Dépôts published on February 13.

How to explain such a disparity? Above all by the arduousness of the trades exercised. “Within categories C, there are physically trying professions, marked by offbeat schedules and difficult working conditions», Underlined Pierrick Joubert, co-author of the study, during his presentation to the press. Nursing assistants, garbage collectors, municipal police … so many professions where the bodies are put to the test, making departures for disability much more frequent. Conversely, category A agents, mainly executives, evolve in an environment much less exposed to physical risks. Their more sedentary and comfortable working conditions, preserve them more disabling conditions.

Agents put in disability in the FPH or FPT live 5 years less on average

This explains why category C agents, much more exposed to painful working conditions, are also those who benefit the least from their retirement. Not only forced to leave for disability before they even reached age allowing them to liquidate their full rate rights, they must also deal with a drastically shortened life expectancy. The Caisse des Dépôts says it: “The life expectancy of invalid people (in the territorial and hospital public service) is significantly lower than that of other affiliates.»»

So much so that at 65 years old, a woman who retired for disability will live an average of another 20.1 years, compared to 23.7 years for those who have taken a “classic” retirement. In other words, these workers see their life expectancy amputated almost four years. Among men, the gap is even more striking: an agent invalidated at 65 years will only live an average of 14.2 years additional, against 19.2 years for those who retired old age. Or a planed life expectancy of five.

To the arduousness of the profession and the impact of disability on longevity is added another factor: the agent’s hierarchical level. The more a civil servant occupies a high position in the hierarchy, the more likely he is to live for a long time. The study thus shows that category C agents – less graduates – live on average almost 3 years younger than those in category Aand 2 years younger than those in category B. A double penalty perfectly summarized by the Caisse des Dépôts: “Poor health that leads to disability is also what shortens life expectancy.”