The Social Security budget for 2023 provides for a sharply reduced deficit, to 6.8 billion euros, but the losses of the old-age branch will widen in the following years, according to the draft law consulted on Sunday.

Social security is almost cured of Covid-19.

Since the abysmal record of 2020 (nearly 39 billion), the losses have continued to reduce: less than 25 billion in 2021, 17.8 billion this year and, therefore, 6.8 billion expected in 2023.

A spectacular recovery of the accounts

These figures, which cover a broader scope than just the general scheme of social security funds, nevertheless confirm the spectacular recovery of the accounts, first thanks to growth, now with the help of inflation.

The rise in prices, and in its wake that of wages, indeed boosts contributions, which will result in 2023 in a jump of 4.1% in revenue, when expenditure will only increase by 2.1%.

A situation that will mainly benefit the health branch, whose losses will be reduced from around 20 billion euros this year to 6.5 billion next year.

Economy measures

This result is however subject to caution, because largely due to the melting of the Covid bill, which would fall from more than 11 billion euros to only one billion next year.

However, this provision “may prove to be very insufficient”, according to the opinion of the High Council of Public Finances, quoted in the document.

The savings measures are beyond measure: the government thus intends to tackle the work stoppages issued by teleconsultation, the cost of which is around 100 million euros, and to strengthen the arsenal against social fraud.

A call from the foot assumed on the right before a complicated debate in Parliament.

Added to this is a budgetary sleight of hand, the text providing for the transfer of the two billion paid for "post-natal maternity leave" to the family branch, which would still remain in surplus in 2023 and the following years, while such as the industrial accident branch.

Backfire

On the other hand, the health branch would not come out of the red, its deficit should continue to be absorbed at a much more moderate pace, to settle at 2.6 billion in 2026.

On an opposite trajectory, the old age branch could quickly take back the title of "sick man of the Sécu".

Yet close to balance this year (-1.7 billion), it should plunge back to 2.7 billion in 2023 and up to 13.7 billion in 2026.

A balance “particularly sensitive” to the “projected slowdown in inflation”, because the pensions are revalued on January 1 according to the rise in prices observed the previous year.

The anticipated 4% increase in July will certainly limit the impact in 2023, but the backlash will be felt from 2024.

“The demographic effects of aging”

Caught up by “the demographic effects of aging” of the population, the old age branch will also be weighed down by a “marked degradation” of the system of territorial and hospital civil servants (CNRACL), trapped by the growing use of contract workers.

These are all elements that should outweigh "the objective of gradually raising the effective age of departure", the rise in which has been observed for fifteen years should continue in the short term.

However, the draft bill does not include any pension reform measures, while the executive is considering introducing an increase in the legal age or the contribution period by an amendment during the debates in Parliament in the month of october.

Reluctance within the majority

This scenario, however, comes up against reluctance within the majority itself, while the left and far right oppositions threaten to draw motions of censure in the Assembly.

The executive nevertheless intends to carry out this reform by the summer of 2023, arguing for the rapid and lasting return of deficits, pointed out in the latest report of the Pensions Orientation Council.

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  • Pension reform

  • Budget

  • Social Security

  • Deficit

  • Retirement

  • Economy