What Are the Retirement Benefits for Military Service?

Military service entitles individuals to retirement benefits under the basic and supplemental pension plans, subject to certain conditions.

Periods of military service are recognized by the basic pension plans, without any preconditions, as equivalent to a period of insurance for the purpose of establishing eligibility and calculating old-age benefits. Ninety days of military service count as one quarter, up to a maximum of four quarters per year. 

Volunteers who have extended their military service beyond the mandatory period earn quarters of service under the same conditions

Periods of service as a conscientious objector are also included in the calculation of retirement benefits. These are referred to as “equivalent” quarters rather than “contributory” quarters, because they are accrued without the need to pay contributions. However, in order for your periods of military service to be taken into account when calculating your retirement pension, you must have made contributions either before or after your national service.

Civic service also counts toward retirement benefits. Since 2014, the rules have been aligned with the general pension system. You must have earned at least 150 times the hourly minimum wage during the year (1,747.50 euros gross in 2024) to qualify for one quarter of pension credit.

4 quarters for a long career

Periods of national service are taken into account when calculating eligibility for early retirement based on a long career, up to a maximum of 4 quarters.

The quarters accrued during the period of military service are credited by the mandatory pension plan to which the insured person is enrolled after completing military service. If the insured person is covered by a special pension plan, that plan may take the period into account, subject to certain conditions. If the insured person was simultaneously enrolled in multiple plans (other than a special plan), the period of national service is credited by the plan to which they contributed for the longest period of time.

As a general rule, supplemental pension plans do not grant pension benefits based on national service. However, there are two exceptions:

• Agirc-Arrco: Non-executive employees are eligible for additional points for any period of military service exceeding 12 months. Enlistment must have interrupted a period of employment, sick leave, or unemployment receiving benefits. The points are calculated based on the number of points earned during the calendar year preceding the military service.
• Ircantec (Supplementary Pension Institution for Non-Permanent Employees of the State and Public Authorities): To be eligible for free points, you must have at least one year of service recognized by Ircantec, whether as a volunteer or in a paid capacity. In addition, your period of military service must not have been counted toward any pension plan other than the general Social Security system or the agricultural Social Security system.

Generally, the military administration forwards information regarding national service to your pension fund. Check to make sure this period is properly recorded on your career summary. If it is not, you must send a letter requesting a “certificate of service” or a “service record.” The service-public.fr website provides sample letters.