In France, non-appeal is expensive. It is clear, moreover, that retirees are particularly likely to suffer from this type of situation. As Planet recently had the opportunity to explain, nearly one in two individuals likely to claim the Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa) are unaware of it and therefore do not apply for it. This boost should however allow them to receive several hundred additional euros per month, on average. That being said, the strict conditions of resources which lock access to this benefit considerably limit the loss, in terms of the number of pensioners directly concerned.

Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the Aspa (which some still call minimum old age) is far from being the only benefit victim of non-use by retirees. This is also the case, explains the director of the National Old Age Insurance Fund (Cnav) in the columns of Capital, of… retirement.

In truth, continues Renaud Villard, it is even the second most common type of non-recourse. An astonishing situation, no doubt, but which can be explained quite simply. It remains to be seen, then, if it is possible to correct it…

Those who forget to ask for their retirement generally correspond to specific profiles, note our colleagues. There is the case of those who have contributed to three or four plans and who, forgetting the reality of their career, do not ask for their full pension. Without forgetting, of course, those who only contributed a few years in France before going abroad and giving up on their pension.

Put together, explains Renaud Villard, this represents 2 to 3 billion euros lost per year. Is it possible to recover them? In theory yes: it is then necessary to approach the pension fund concerned. As Planet explains in its latest survey, great progress has been made in this area and it is possible to find out more from the official Info-Retraite platform.