Retirement: pension increase for 3 children soon reserved for women?

The pension increase for parents of three or more children, particularly men. A reform of this mechanism would make it possible to rebalance the retirement gap in favor of women, according to a recent report.

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Between men and women, income differences are unfortunately not limited to working life. Also a retirement, the gap is abyssal: “Women residing in France have an average direct law pension (including the possible increase for three or more children 38% that of men in 2022”, points out the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (DREES) in its latest report “Retirees and pensions” of October 2024. of the pension increase for three children, which is the subject of a recent study by the DREES published in March 2025.

As a reminder, an increase of 10% is paid to all the insured who had at least three children. And this, regardless of their gender or pension level. At a total cost of 8.4 billion euros in 2020 (2.9% of direct law pensions, excluding reversion, therefore), it benefits especially men since they affect the highest pensions. “The masses paid under this system concern more men, who are overrepresented among the wealthy retirees”points the Drees. And the figures mentioned in the report do not say anything else since “The increase in children’s pension served for beneficiaries represents on average 77 euros per month for women, against 136 euros for men”.

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A flat -rate increase of 150 euros for women?

An inequality of treatment on which the Drees has worked, and proposed three variants “In the light of redistribution objectives to women or the most modest”specifies the study. In the first scenario, a lump sum of 150 euros per month is paid to parents of three or more children for a liquidation of retirement in 2026. A mechanism which would make, for the parents concerned, 60% of winners in women against a little more than 40% among men. But with very limited effects on inequalities in terms of retirement between men and women: “The average pension of women would increase by 0.3%, while that of men would decrease the same proportion, so that the average pension of women would represent 85.5% of that of men, against 84.9% in current legislation for this generation”point the authors.

Another option: to exclusively pay the pension increase to women, and from the first child. Thus, in this second scenario, the “bonus” would reach 3% for a child, 6% for two children and 13% for three or more children, with a Ceiling of 3,000 euros gross per year. A method which would increase the average pension at 68 years of women born in 1978 and, on the contrary, would decrease that of men by 3%. “Ultimately, the average pension of women would represent 90.4% of that of men, compared to 84.9% in current legislation, or 5.5 points of reduction in the average pension difference”indicates the study. A downside, however: the inequalities of pensions between the wealthiest and the most modest retirees would be reduced in the thickness of the line, the ratio between the retirement of the richest 20% and the 20% the least well -off crumbling from 8 to 7.8.

An overly expensive reform for our pension system?

Last track studied, that of a flat -rate increase, increasing depending on the number of children, and reserved for women. Fixed at 40 euros, 80 euros and 160 euros for one, two and three children or more respectively, this package would still have many winners in women – 81.6% would see their pension increase by at least 1% -, losers mainly among mothers of three or more children (16% of them). On the side of women with the most modest pensions, 51.1% would see their retirement climbing at least 20%, “While within the highest fifth, almost no woman would earn more than 5% in this scenario”underline the authors. Overall, Women of the 1978 generation would earn 3.9% on their pension At 68, men losing 3% on average. This scenario “Would be the one who would reduce inequalities most in relation to current legislation. Thus, the average pension ratio between women and men would drop from 84.9% to 90.9%, or 6 points of percentage of reduction in the gap. In addition, the relationship between average pensions within the last and the first fifth would drop from almost one point (from 8.0 to 7.1), reflecting a decrease in pension differences between retirees “they continue.

© Drees

Effective on paper, the overhaul of pension increase for parents of three children or more risk, however, to come up against a limit, not least. That of a “Financial drift”even more important for the last track studied, the evolutionary package being upgraded over the years depending on the evolution of the average salary per head (SMPT). However, impossible given the finances of pension plans to dig deficits. Reason why the Drees mentions the existence “Other family devices much more targeted to women: increases in insurance duration and AVPF (Old Age Insurance of Parents at home, Editor’s note”). The reform of the children’s pension increase mechanism, and thereforeIncrease in mothers’ pensions of family, in the near future is therefore anything but some …