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Social Security Entitlements for Retired and "Inactif" People
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Information about healthcover for the unemployed or people of retirement age in France...
An inactif person is one
who is not engaged
in economic activity on an employed or self-employed basis in France. They are
classed as inactif regardless
of whether they receive income from inside or outside France (from a pension,
investments or other source).
Retired EU Citizens (European Conventions and Form S1)
EU
expatriates resident in France qualify for retirement when they reach the
retirement age as established in their home country (not at the retirement age
set in France). Retired people receive health cover and pay nothing into the
French social security system provided that they have a Form S1 (former
E121). This puts an expatriate in France onto exactly the same legal basis as a
French national. The S1 form should be obtained from the former country of
residence.
It proves
that:
- Appropriate social
security taxes have been paid in that country
- The person has
reached the official retirement age
- They are receiving
a State pension
In France,
husbands and wives - or acknowledged partners - are treated as one taxable
unit. So if there is a significant difference in age between partners, birth
and marriage certificates are needed to bring both partners under Social
Security.
EU expatriates below these age groups,
or those who do not meet the qualifications described above, may be entitled to
register for healthcare cover using form
S1 (former E106). This is a certificate of entitlement to
health cover for a limited duration. After that, all entitlement to any State
medical cover is lost until the qualifications above are met (official
retirement date and receipt of a State pension).
Universelle Maladie (Puma)
Universelle
Maladie, Puma is the French system’s health program. It guarantees
permanent residents the right to health cover.
Those who
do not work in France but live there must fill out an application.
For more
visit the Service Public website.
The French health system only covers a percentage of basic
health charges, ranging from 35% at the lower end to 100% for major illnesses.
EU
citizens moving to a member state or resident for less than five years in a
member state have the right of residence provided they:
- Have health
insurance (either private or are eligible for state insurance)
- Have sufficient
financial means not to put a drain on the state
This means
that:
- Any EU citizen who
is entitled to apply for health cover using Form S1 (former E106
or E121) continues to receive benefits as long as the documents are valid.
They should register or be registered with their local CPAM office.
- Inactif people moving
to France who are not eligible for Form S1 (former E106 or E121) must take
out private health insurance before the move. CPAM will not be able to
grant CMU benefits.
- Inactif people who
are not covered by health insurance from another member state must take
out private health insurance before or on arrival in France.
EU
citizens gain
the right of permanent residence in France after five years of
uninterrupted legal residence (and this applies to non-EU family members who
have lived with them for that period. A "family member" is the spouse
or partner and any dependent child under 21 years). The right of permanent
residence is lost if the EU national was living away from from France for more
than two successive years.
EU
citizens and family members with the
right of residence are entitled to equal treatment with French nationals.
However, until the right of permanent residence has been acquired, France is
not obliged to provide social security to anyone other than employed or
self-employed workers and members of their direct family.
·
For details on how to apply for health benefits visit the Complementaire Sante Solidaire website (in
French)
·
Visit the Securite Sociale website
for more on retirement pensions