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Structural reformIn effectSocial benefitsNational

Reform of general scheme survivor pensions and gradual abolition of widowhood insurance

Article 31 of the Pension Reform Act of 21 August 2003 amends Articles L. 353-1 et seq. of the Social Security Code. Survivor pensions are no longer subject to conditions on length of marriage or not remarrying, but to a condition that personal or household resources do not exceed ceilings set by decree, the pension being reduced if they do. Widowhood insurance is abolished, current recipients keeping their allowance. These provisions apply from 1 July 2004. Decree No. 2004-858 of 24 August 2004 sets the annual ceiling at 2,080 times the hourly minimum wage for a single person and 1.6 times that amount for a household, and keeps until 31 December 2008 a minimum age condition lowered gradually, starting at 55.

Measure originators

InitiatorGVT
François Fillon
Gouvernement
Impact on public finances

No official estimate found for this measure.

Effective date
1 July 2004

Measure impact

Surviving spouses of general-scheme insured persons can receive a survivor pension with no length-of-marriage condition, even if remarried, if their resources do not exceed 2,080 times the hourly minimum wage (1.6 times more for a household), from 1 July 2004.

Official references

Law number: Loi n° 2003-775 du 21 août 2003 (réforme des retraites), art. 31
Official Journal: JORF n° 193 du 22 août 2003
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Sources

Loi n° 2003-775 du 21 août 2003 portant réforme des retraites, art. 31Official
22 August 2003
Décret n° 2004-858 du 24 août 2004Official
25 August 2004

Procedure timeline

Follow the progress of this fiscal measure through the different stages of the parliamentary procedure.

100%
4 / 4 steps
Completed
25 August 2004

Publication in Official Journal

Publication
Publication des décrets n° 2004-857 et n° 2004-858 du 24 août 2004 relatifs aux droits à l'assurance vieillesse des conjoints survivants.
Source
Completed
1 July 2004

Administrative implementation

Application

EntrĂ©e en vigueur de la mesure et mise en Ɠuvre par l'administration

Dispositions applicables Ă  compter du 1er juillet 2004 (art. 31, V).
Source
Completed
21 August 2003

President of the Republic signature

Promulgation

Publication au Journal officiel

Promulgation de la loi n° 2003-775 du 21 août 2003 portant réforme des retraites, publiée au Journal officiel n° 193 du 22 août 2003.
Source
Completed
14 August 2003

Possible referral to Constitutional Council

Constitutional review

Décision de conformité / censure partielle

Décision du Conseil constitutionnel n° 2003-483 DC du 14 août 2003 sur la loi portant réforme des retraites.
Source