The new unemployment benefit rules applicable after a negotiated termination agreement will come into effect on September 1, 2026. The maximum duration of benefits will be reduced from 18 to 15 months for job seekers under 55. For those aged 55 and over, it will be limited to 20,5 months, compared to 22,5 or 27 months depending on age previously.
The reform applies to employees whose contracts end on or after September 1st, regardless of the date the agreement was signed. It does not eliminate the right to unemployment benefits, nor does it change the amount of the benefit. It only reduces the maximum period during which this benefit can be paid.
Feared payment delays
Just days before the new system is set to take effect, France Travail's IT system is reportedly not yet able to automatically apply the new durations. This situation could cause delays in the activation and payment of benefits for some job seekers affected by a negotiated termination agreement.
Special rules apply in the overseas territories, excluding Mayotte, with a maximum compensation of 20 months for those under 55 and 30 months for those 55 and over. The reform is expected to generate savings of between 600 and 800 million euros for the government and facilitate 12,000 to 15,000 additional returns to employment each year.
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