Can the disability pension be combined with other income?

Verified 06 November 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Yes, you can accumulate your disability pension from your Social Security plan (CPAM: titleContent, MSA: titleContent) with certain income, to a certain extent and under certain conditions.

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Accumulation with employment income

Cumulation of the invalidity pension with occupational income (employed or self-employed) is possible, provided that the cumulation does not exceed the comparison threshold. The latter shall be fixed either:

  • At the level of the salary of the last year of activity before the transition to invalidity
  • At the level of the average annual salary of the best 10 years of activity.

This threshold is set according to the rule most favorable to the insured person within the limit of the ceiling of Social Security x 1.5 ( €5,499 since 30 July 2023).

Where the comparison threshold is exceeded, the amount of the invalidity pension above that threshold shall be reduced by half of the amount by which it was exceeded.

You're a salaried employee

The reduction in the invalidity pension occurs when the comparison salary between the 13 is exceedede and before the last month before the declaration.

If work stoppages occurred during the period, only periods of actual work shall be taken into account.

The gross salary and bonus amounts used for the comparison are those received per quarter in a rolling year ending on the 2nde month before the date of examination. The gross salary referred to is that used as the basis for calculating sickness, maternity, disability and death contributions.

Example :

If the cumulation is examined on 1er january 2023, the relevant annual reference period shall be 1er December 2021 until November 30, 2022.

So if you had a gross annual salary of €30,000 and that you receive a Class 1 disability pension from €10,000 either €833.33 per month, you will not be able to receive more than €20,000 salary combined with your pension (total €30,000).

If your disability pension and your income are combined by more than €30,000, your disability pension will be cut in half.

For example: if the sum of your pension and salary is €100 above your comparative salary, your disability pension will be reduced by €50.

The decision of your social security organization (CPAM, MSA) to suspend the payment of your pension is notified by any means (e.g. registered letter with request for notification of receipt).

You are self-employed

The calculation of the cumulation shall be determined on the basis of calendar year which precedes the control of duties. If the rights check is done on 1er january 2023, the reference period is 1er January 2022 to December 31, 2022.

The annual declaration shall be made at 1er October.

Your social security body carries out an annual check.

A declaration of your situation and income from your activity is made on the 7the calendar month after your pension is awarded and then every 12 months.

When you have resumed a professional activity, in the last 12 months, the declaration must be made every 3 months.

The decision of your social security organization (CPAM, MSA) to suspend payment of your pension is notified by any means (e.g. registered letter with request for notification of receipt).

Accident at work Accumulation with an annuity linked to a

Accident at work Accumulation with an annuity received as a result of an accident or illness not compensated by the fund that pays you the annuity and which results in a total incapacity of at least 2/3.

The combined amount of the invalidity pension and the pension must not exceed the salary received by a valid worker of the same socio-occupational category.

Cumulation with unemployment benefits

You are receiving a category 1 disability pension

The pension may be combined in full with Return-to-Work Allowance (RWA).

You receive a 2nd or 3rd category disability pension

The pension may be combined in full with Return-to-Work Allowance (RWA) if you were already receiving it at the same time as the wages that were eligible for the WAGE.

If not, the amount of your WFA paid by Pôle emploi is reduced by the amount of your disability pension.

Accumulation with an annuity paid under a provident agreement

It is possible to combine an invalidity pension with an annuity paid under a pension contract without restriction.

Cumulation with an agricultural invalidity pension

Cumulation with an agricultural invalidity pension is possible in case of invalidity having another origin (new accident or new disease) than the one for which you are already pensioned.

The cumulative amount of the two pensions must not exceed the salary received by a valid worker of the same socio-occupational category.

Accumulation with a disability pension from a special scheme

Cumulation with an invalidity pension paid by a special scheme is possible if the invalidity has a different origin (new accident or disease) than the one for which you are already pensioned.

The cumulative amount of the two pensions must not exceed the salary received by a valid worker of the same socio-occupational category.

Cumulation with a military disability pension

The combination with a military invalidity pension is possible if the accident or illness results in a total incapacity of at least 2/3 and is not compensated by the fund which pays the military pension.

The cumulative amount of the two pensions must not exceed the salary received by a valid worker of the same socio-occupational category.

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