The news is a real bolt from the blue: at least 2,500 retired job seekers, including Algerians residing in France, find themselves in an extremely serious situation.
Forced to repay sums ranging between 5,000 and 100,000 euros to France Travail, these retirees are the victims of an incredible administrative error. Instead of starting to receive their retirement pension, they continued to receive unemployment benefit for several months, thus exacerbating their already precarious situation.
This administrative tragedy, revealed by the annual report of the France Travail mediator, highlights a major dysfunction in the transmission of information between pension funds and Pôle Emploi agencies. A breach that has devastating repercussions for thousands of people, plunging them into unprecedented financial and emotional distress.
Faced with this dramatic situation, the question that arises is how to react. The first step is to pay attention to your mailbox, because France Travail must send an official letter informing you of the reimbursement request. Upon receipt of this letter, it is imperative not to remain passive. Specialized lawyers strongly recommend quickly starting a dispute process, by requesting the cancellation of the debt.
Me Laure Germain-Phion, lawyer at the Grenoble Bar and expert in labor law, underlines the importance of this appeal: “Do it in writing, in a motivated manner, by transmitting all the supporting documents of your financial and family situation”. It is crucial to argue that unemployment benefits were received before retirement began, an argument that can work in favor of debt forgiveness.
It should be noted that this appeal must be initiated within only one month, thus underlining the urgency of the situation. At the same time, it is recommended to contact pension funds to discuss the possibility of paying pensions retroactively, a measure which could help to mitigate the financial consequences for those affected.
Algerian retirees in France: the government’s plan to save thousands of euros
France, a popular destination for Algerian retirees, recently announced the implementation of drastic measures aimed at strengthening controls and securing retirement pensions. These new policies, presented by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, are part of a vast plan to combat tax, social and customs fraud, initiated in May 2023.
Since the launch of this plan, Pension Insurance has detected nearly 200 million euros in damage, thus underlining the crucial importance of these measures to guarantee the integrity of the retirement system. With more than 15 million retirees receiving basic pensions, it is imperative to protect funds allocated to these essential benefits.
One of the key measures concerns the strengthening of controls on retirees aged over 85. In countries where France does not have direct access to information on the civil status of beneficiaries, such as Algeria, increased risks of fraud are observed. To remedy this, a partnership with an Algerian bank was established. Thus, retirees who do not respond to Retirement Insurance requests for six months must go to their local bank to confirm their identity. Those suspected of identity theft are summoned to the consulate for additional checks.
Another initiative is to extend checks to centenarians. After a successful experience in Algeria, where 1,000 retirees over the age of 98 were summoned, the government plans to extend these controls to those over 85 by 2027 in countries where civil status exchanges with France are limited. These controls will be carried out by trusted third parties, such as banking networks or local administrations, to guarantee their impartiality.
At the same time, the French government is putting in place measures to facilitate access to bank accounts. By the end of June, Retirement Insurance will have access to the French bank account file (Ficoba), thus making it possible to check retirees’ bank details in real time. This initiative aims to ensure that pensions are paid to the correct recipients, thereby increasing the transparency and security of transactions.
Concretely, these measures translate into physical summons of retirees to check their identity documents, as well as rigorous checks of banking information. In the event of non-compliance or absence from appointments, pension payments may be suspended, ensuring responsible management of public funds.
