Work less without waiting for permanent retirement : on paper, the idea appeals. In practice, many discover too late that the system depends heavily on professional status. In the wake of the 2023 pension reform, access to thegradual retirement is possible from 60 years since September 1, 2025, compared to 62 years previously in most cases. However, it is necessary have validated at least 150 quarters and reduce their professional activityrecalls Service-Public.fr. You still need to check that your status really allows you to benefit from it and that the drop in income remains bearable on a daily basis.
The principle: continue to work while already receiving part of your retirement pension. But this mechanism should not be confused with the accumulation of employment and retirement, which occurs after the complete liquidation of rights. On the contrary, progressive retirement allows you to continue to acquire new rightswhich can improve the final pension and avoid a sudden break in income upon departure, provided you anticipate sufficiently early.
Employees: the simplest system to set up
For the employeesprogressive retirement is based on a transition to part-time compensated by the payment of a fraction of a pension, while continuing to acquire retirement rights. “For an employee or an executive, the most accessible system remains progressive retirement”explain Marie Devaux, wealth management advisor. “It is a mechanism that is still little used because it is poorly understood. »
A paid employee 3,000 euros net per month passing to 80% can see his salary fall around 2,400 eurosbefore the retirement supplement. Without prior simulation, the drop in income can quickly unbalance the budget.
Self-employed and liberal professions: more technical access
For the independentartisans, traders or liberal professions, progressive retirement is also open since the 2023 reformbut the procedures are often more complex. The rules differ depending on the funds (SSI, CIPAVliberal funds) and the drop in activity generally involves a reduction in professional income. “Practical arrangements remain less fluid than in business”underlines Marie Devaux. In return, these profiles often have more flexibility to gradually adjust their activity level.
For liberal professions, the equation becomes more delicate : reducing your activity too quickly can directly weaken customers, patients or turnover. The consequence is twofold: an immediate drop in income and lower pension contributions, therefore a potentially reduced future pension.
Leaders: more an exit strategy than a simple device
Among the leadersprogressive retirement rarely applies as for a traditional employee. The subject becomes especially heritage : reduction of remuneration, transfer or sale of the company. “For managers, progressive retirement in the strict sense hardly applies”recalls Marie Devaux. “They must above all anticipate their transition via the gradual reduction of their remuneration or the sale of their activity. » Waiting until the last moment remains the classic mistake : the risk is to sell in a hurry and suffer a sudden drop in income.
The most common errors
The first error remains confusion with combining employment and retirement. Many people think they can continue to work after liquidation while improving their pension, which is not always the case.
Result: poor choice of system, poor financial projection and less optimized pension. Another classic error: waiting until the last months to worry about it. “As soon as possible”replies Marie Devaux when asked when to start preparing for this transition.
One of the first exercises is to define your comfort budgetthat is to say the level of monthly income really necessary to live peacefully in retirement. This then makes it possible to measure the gap to be filled and to choose the right decisions.
Gradual retirement works especially when it is part of a clear strategy: knowing your rights, anticipating your future income and adapting the transition to your professional status. Because when it comes to gradual retirement, improvisation is often very expensive.
