As France moves into 2026, retirees and soon‑to‑retire workers are watching two practical questions more closely than any political debate: how low can your pension legally be if you retire “at full rate” (taux plein)—and on what exact dates will the money arrive?
Official publications now pin down both the minimum contributory pension thresholds (the minimum contributif, or MiCo) and the 2026 payment calendars across the main schemes. Meanwhile, base pensions are also set to rise on 1 January 2026, following the legal inflation indexation rule. [1]
Below is a clear, publication‑ready guide—grounded in official schedules and circulars—covering the new official MiCo floors from 1 January 2026 and the exact payment dates in 2026 for the general scheme (Assurance retraite/CNAV), Agirc‑Arrco, the French State pension (SRE), CNRACL, and Ircantec. [2]
What “minimum pension” really means in France (and what it doesn’t)
When French media refers to a “minimum pension,” it’s easy to mix up two very different protections:
- Minimum contributif (MiCo): a mechanism that tops up a low basic pension (retraite de base) if you meet specific conditions—typically linked to retiring at taux plein after a career with low wages. [3]
- ASPA (Allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées): a means‑tested solidarity benefit (often called “minimum vieillesse”), with its own rules (and a different logic than MiCo). [4]
This article focuses on MiCo because that is what the “new official minimum” refers to for people retiring at full rate in 2026. [5]
Base pensions are revalued on 1 January 2026 (+0.9%), but MiCo follows its own rule
France’s basic retirement pensions (retraites de base) will be revalued by +0.9% on 1 January 2026, according to the legal inflation‑indexation framework and the official coefficient (1.009). [6]
However, the minimum contributif (MiCo) is now tied to a separate rule: its key thresholds are revalued at a rate at least equal to the evolution of the SMIC (minimum wage) since the previous 1 January. In the CNAV’s official circular for 2026, the MiCo revaluation rate is 1.18%, reflecting the SMIC increase from January 2025 to January 2026. [7]
That difference matters: MiCo thresholds can move differently from the general +0.9% base‑pension revaluation, because MiCo is now anchored to SMIC evolution rather than only inflation. [8]
The new official MiCo amounts from 1 January 2026 (taux plein in 2026)
According to the CNAV’s official circular on the SMIC revaluation and its impacts on retirement legislation, the full (maximum) MiCo amounts applicable from 1 January 2026 are: [9]
- MiCo (standard): €756.29 gross per month (i.e., €9,075.50 gross per year) [10]
- MiCo majoré (increased MiCo): €903.93 gross per month (i.e., €10,847.22 gross per year) [11]
French consumer finance outlet MoneyVox highlighted the same 2026 MiCo figures and the key condition attached to the “majoré” level (see next section). [12]
The key condition many people miss: “taux plein” is not enough for the €903.93 level
If you retire at taux plein in 2026, that can open the door to the MiCo mechanism—but it does not automatically guarantee the MiCo majoré amount.
To access the majoré level, you typically must be able to justify 120 “cotised” quarters (trimestres cotisés)—a stricter requirement than simply having validated quarters. This condition is repeatedly emphasized in official explainers and in reporting about the 2026 thresholds. [13]
The other gatekeeper: the “plafond” on total personal pensions (now €1,410.89/month)
Even if your basic pension is low enough to trigger MiCo, MiCo cannot push your total personal pensions above a ceiling (called the plafond mensuel des retraites personnelles). From 1 January 2026, that monthly ceiling is set at: €1,410.89 gross per month. [14]
Service‑Public (the French administration’s official information site) explains the principle clearly: the MiCo top‑up cannot raise the total of your pensions (basic + complementary, all schemes combined—including foreign pensions) above the ceiling; if needed, the MiCo is adjusted. [15]
Practical takeaway: it is possible to be at taux plein, but still receive less than the headline €903.93 (or even less MiCo overall) because of (1) the 120 cotised quarters test and/or (2) the total pension ceiling. [16]
Why payment dates differ so much in 2026 (and why your bank still matters)
A second source of confusion every year is that not all pensions are paid “after the month”—and the calendar depends on the scheme:
- Assurance retraite (CNAV/Carsat): paid in arrears (à terme échu) around the 9th of the following month, with adjustments for weekends/holidays. [17]
- Agirc‑Arrco (private‑sector complementary): paid in advance at the start of the month, on the first working day. [18]
- Public‑sector schemes (SRE, CNRACL, Ircantec): typically paid toward the end of the month, by bank transfer—again, with real‑world timing depending on bank processing. [19]
Regional outlet La Dépêche summed up this “three‑rhythm” reality for 2026 (around the 9th; start of month; end of month) when pointing readers to the official calendars. [20]
Official 2026 payment dates: Assurance retraite (CNAV/Carsat, general scheme)
The Assurance retraite’s official calendar confirms the rule: the fund sends the payment to your bank around the 9th, with exceptions when the 9th falls on a weekend/holiday. [21]
Here are the official payment dates for pensions “due” from December 2025 through December 2026 (this is how the official calendar is presented): [22]
- Pension for December 2025 → paid 9 January 2026
- January 2026 → 9 February 2026
- February 2026 → 9 March 2026
- March 2026 → 9 April 2026
- April 2026 → 7 May 2026 (adjusted)
- May 2026 → 9 June 2026
- June 2026 → 9 July 2026
- July 2026 → 7 August 2026 (adjusted)
- August 2026 → 9 September 2026
- September 2026 → 9 October 2026
- October 2026 → 9 November 2026
- November 2026 → 9 December 2026
- December 2026 → 8 January 2027 (falls outside calendar year 2026, but it is the “due month” date on the official table)
If you only track calendar-year 2026 bank arrivals, the two dates that most often surprise people are the early payments on 7 May and 7 August 2026, plus the fact that December 2026 is paid in January 2027. [23]
Special case: Alsace‑Moselle (Carsat) has a different rhythm
Assurance retraite also publishes a separate calendar for Alsace‑Moselle, where the pension is paid at the beginning of the month concerned (or the first working day). [24]
Key official dates for 2026 (month concerned → payment date) include: [25]
- January 2026 → 2 January 2026
- February 2026 → 2 February 2026
- March 2026 → 2 March 2026
- April 2026 → 1 April 2026
- May 2026 → 4 May 2026
- June 2026 → 1 June 2026
- July 2026 → 1 July 2026
- August 2026 → 3 August 2026
- September 2026 → 1 September 2026
- October 2026 → 1 October 2026
- November 2026 → 2 November 2026
- December 2026 → 1 December 2026
Official 2026 payment dates: Agirc‑Arrco (private‑sector complementary pension)
Agirc‑Arrco’s official payment calendar confirms a simple rule for retirees: the complementary pension is paid in advance, on the first working day of each month. [26]
Agirc‑Arrco also warns retirees to use official sources because “false information” about payments has circulated online, especially on social media and forums—sometimes causing unnecessary anxiety. [27]
The 2026 calendar (month concerned → payment date)
- January 2026 → 2 January 2026
- February 2026 → 2 February 2026
- March 2026 → 2 March 2026
- April 2026 → 1 April 2026
- May 2026 → 4 May 2026
- June 2026 → 1 June 2026
- July 2026 → 1 July 2026
- August 2026 → 3 August 2026
- September 2026 → 1 September 2026
- October 2026 → 1 October 2026
- November 2026 → 2 November 2026
- December 2026 → 1 December 2026 [28]
“Paid on X date” doesn’t always mean “visible in your account that same day”
Agirc‑Arrco explicitly notes that your bank account is generally credited within one to two days, but it can take longer—especially when the payment is triggered on a Friday or right before a public holiday. [29]
Official 2026 payment dates: SRE (Service des retraites de l’État)
For French civil servants and military retirees paid by the SRE, the official SRE page states the pension is paid by bank transfer at the end of the month, crediting the amount corresponding to the current month. [30]
The SRE’s official 2026 payment dates (dates of bank transfer value) are: [31]
- 29 January 2026
- 26 February 2026
- 30 March 2026
- 29 April 2026
- 28 May 2026
- 29 June 2026
- 30 July 2026
- 28 August 2026
- 29 September 2026
- 29 October 2026
- 27 November 2026
- 23 December 2026
SRE also stresses that crediting delays vary by bank—and can be longer for retirees living abroad due to processing times. [32]
Official 2026 payment dates: CNRACL (territorial and hospital civil service)
CNRACL publishes its own official schedule and reminds retirees that while the fund provides a planned payment date, the actual appearance in the bank account depends on the financial institution. [33]
CNRACL’s official payment dates for 2026 are: [34]
- 28 January 2026
- 25 February 2026
- 27 March 2026
- 28 April 2026
- 27 May 2026
- 26 June 2026
- 29 July 2026
- 27 August 2026
- 28 September 2026
- 28 October 2026
- 26 November 2026
- 24 December 2026
Official 2026 payment dates: Ircantec (complementary pension for non‑tenured public workers)
Ircantec’s official calendar adds an extra layer: pensions can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the number of points you have. [35]
From the official Ircantec schedule, the monthly payment dates in 2026 are: [36]
- 28 January 2026
- 25 February 2026
- 27 March 2026
- 28 April 2026
- 27 May 2026
- 26 June 2026
- 29 July 2026
- 27 August 2026
- 28 September 2026
- 28 October 2026
- 26 November 2026
- 24 December 2026
Ircantec also emphasizes a real‑world point retirees often underestimate: if your account isn’t credited within the week following the transfer date, contact your bank—and keep your personal information (including bank details) up to date in your retirement space to avoid interruptions. [37]
One more “expert” point: your net pension can move in 2026 even if gross rises
Even with a 1 January revaluation, what retirees feel is often the net amount. Agirc‑Arrco notes that the social contribution rates applied to your complementary pension are determined each year using your tax reference income, household shares, and place of residence, and that your net payment can therefore decrease, stay unchanged, or increase in 2026 depending on your fiscal situation. [38]
That’s one reason headlines about “+0.9%” (gross) don’t always translate into the same change on the bank statement. [39]
What to do now (especially if you retire in 2026)
If you’re planning a 2026 retirement—or you manage a household budget tightly around pension arrival dates—three actions help avoid surprises:
- Check which scheme(s) pay you and on which rhythm (CNAV on/around the 9th; Agirc‑Arrco early month; public schemes end of month). [40]
- If you’re counting on MiCo, verify the two “hidden gates”:
- your taux plein conditions, and
- whether you have 120 trimestres cotisés (for the “majoré” level), and
- whether your total pensions exceed the €1,410.89/month ceiling (MiCo can be reduced). [41]
- Use official portals and personal spaces rather than forwarded calendars on social media—Agirc‑Arrco explicitly warns about misinformation around payment dates. [42]
Key takeaways for 2026
- Base pensions: revalued +0.9% on 1 January 2026 (official coefficient 1.009). [43]
- MiCo from 1 January 2026 (official):€756.29/month gross, and €903.93/month gross for MiCo majoré, subject to conditions. [44]
- MiCo ceiling: total personal pensions capped at €1,410.89/month gross for MiCo attribution as of 1 January 2026. [45]
- Payment dates: CNAV ≈ 9th (with shifts in May and August 2026), Agirc‑Arrco first working day, SRE/CNRACL/Ircantec end‑of‑month schedules, with bank processing time still a factor. [46]
If you want, I can rewrite this in a more “newsroom wire” tone (shorter paragraphs, tighter lede) or in a more “Discover magazine” style (more human budgeting scenarios)—while keeping the same official sourcing.
References
1. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 2. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 3. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 4. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 5. www.moneyvox.fr, 6. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 7. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 8. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 9. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 10. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 11. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 12. www.moneyvox.fr, 13. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 14. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 15. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 16. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 17. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 18. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 19. retraitesdeletat.gouv.fr, 20. www.ladepeche.fr, 21. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 22. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 23. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 24. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 25. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 26. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 27. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 28. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 29. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 30. retraitesdeletat.gouv.fr, 31. retraitesdeletat.gouv.fr, 32. retraitesdeletat.gouv.fr, 33. www.cnracl.retraites.fr, 34. www.cnracl.retraites.fr, 35. www.ircantec.retraites.fr, 36. www.ircantec.retraites.fr, 37. www.ircantec.retraites.fr, 38. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 39. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 40. www.lassuranceretraite.fr, 41. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 42. www.agirc-arrco.fr, 43. www.service-public.gouv.fr, 44. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 45. legislation.lassuranceretraite.fr, 46. www.lassuranceretraite.fr
