France Proposes Annual In-Person Verification for Overseas Retirees’ Pensions

On Wednesday, January 22, Republican deputy Fabien Di Filippo tabled an amendment proposing that any French retiree residing abroad "present himself, each year, in person, before the French consular authorities or any legal or natural person approved by him" to receive his pension. This measure will be implemented "under conditions determined by decree in the Council of State," it is specified. In case of non-compliance with this requirement, "the payment of his pension is immediately interrupted," proposes the Republican deputy.

In his argument, Fabien Di Filippo indicates that, according to the updated data from the National Social Security Fund, nearly one million French retirees live abroad, and more than half outside the continent. In view of these figures, the deputy of the Republican right evokes a "risk of concealment of deaths or their late declaration", and consequently of fraud which could generate estimated losses of 9 billion euros.

Citing the case of Algeria, the deputy reports that the French government had undertaken in 2022 to census the French retirees living in that country. This initiative has revealed that "nearly 30% of the 1,000 people (Algerians, editor’s note) aged over 98 who were summoned did not show up, resulting in the suspension of their pension." If this amendment is adopted, French retirees of Moroccan origin living in Morocco will have to report, despite the weight of age and illness, to French consulates to receive their pensions.