Asbestos early retirement for private sector employees
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you have been exposed to asbestos during your working life, you can benefit, under certain conditions, from a early retirement asbestos. It entitles you to the Asbestos Workers' Early Termination Allowance (Acaata), from the time you leave work until you retire. We present you the information to know.
To be able to benefit from a early retirement asbestos, you must be in one of the following cases:
1st case: have an occupational disease caused by asbestos
You can stop your activity from the age of 50 if you are recognized by the Health Insurance as having a occupational disease caused by asbestos, on a list laid down by ministerial decree.
2nd case: work or have worked in an asbestos-containing material manufacturing establishment or in an asbestos flocking and insulation plant
You may cease your activity if you work or have worked in an asbestos-containing material manufacturing facility or in an asbestos flocking and insulation facility during periods when asbestos or asbestos-containing materials were manufactured or processed there.
The list of establishments and, for each establishment, of the period concerned, shall be laid down by ministerial order.
You can stop your activity from an age equal to 60 years minus one third of the time worked in the establishment and at the earliest at 50 years.
3rd case: working or having worked in a shipbuilding or repair establishment
You can stop your activity if you meet the following 2 conditions:
- You work or have worked in a shipbuilding or ship repair establishment on a list established by ministerial order during periods during which asbestos or asbestos-containing materials were treated there
- During those periods, you were engaged in a trade on a list set out in ministerial order.
You can stop your activity from an age equal to 60 years minus one third of the time worked in the establishment and at the earliest at 50 years.
4th case: being a dockworker or port staff handling
You may cease your activity if you are a professional dockworker or port personnel handling and if you work or have worked in a port during a period when asbestos was being handled.
The list of ports and, for each port, the period during which asbestos was handled shall be laid down by ministerial order.
You can stop your activity from an age equal to 60 years minus one third of the working time in the port and at the earliest at 50 years.
FYI
Sailors and former sailors also benefit from a specific asbestos early retirement scheme.
Asbestos Workers' Allowance Application
You must apply for the Asbestos Workers' Early Termination Allowance (AAWA) using a different form depending on your situation.
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You have an occupational disease caused by asbestos
You are an employee or former employee of an asbestos manufacturing or processing establishment
You are an employee or former employee of shipbuilding and repair
A form must be completed:
Application for an allowance for employed and former employees in shipbuilding and ship repair
You are a professional dockworker or port staff
A form must be completed:
Asbestos Workers Allowance Application - Professional Dockworkers and Port Personnel Handling
Your request must be sent to the pension and occupational health insurance fund Sud Est (Carsat Sud-Est) if you reside in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Corsica, Occitanie and Rhône-Alpes regions.
Who shall I contact
By post
35 George Street
13386 Marseille Cedex 20
By phone
9.71.10.13.33
Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am to 12pm
Your request must be sent to the regional health insurance fund of Ile de France (Cramif) if you reside in the other regions and overseas departments.
Who shall I contact
By post
17-19 avenue de Flandre
75954 Paris Cedex 19
By email
allocation.amiante.cramif@assurance-maladie.fr
Physical welcome
25, avenue de Flandre
75019 Paris
Decision of the Social Security Fund
The Cramif or the South East Carsat has a period of 2 months to decide on your request for Acata.
If you qualify for the allowance, it estimates the gross monthly amount of your allowance.
You are free to accept or not to accept this proposal.
In the absence of a decision by your caisse within 2 months, the application is considered rejected.
Early retirement
Once your application for an asbestos workers' allowance has been accepted by Cramif or Carsat Sud Est, you must resign in order to take early retirement and receive the allowance.
You are entitled to the same notice period as in the case of dismissal.
You are also entitled to a termination indemnity, in an amount equal to severance pay on the employee's initiative (except treaty provision more favorable).
This allowance is exempt from contributions and income tax.
What is the amount of the allowance for asbestos workers?
The gross amount of the Acata is calculated on the basis of a reference monthly salary equal to the discounted average of the gross monthly salaries of your last 12 months of salaried activity.
If your reference monthly salary is less than €4,005, Accata is equal to 65% your reference salary.
If your reference monthly salary is higher than €4,005, Accata is equal to €2,603.25 to which is added 50% from your reference salary between €4,005 and €8,010.
The portion of your reference salary greater than €8,010 is not taken into account.
The allowance is subject to the following contributions:
- Health insurance (at the rate set by the health insurance plan to which you belong when you apply for the allowance)
- CSG-CRDS (unless the income qualifies for exemption)
- Additional contribution of solidarity autonomy (Casa).
How is the asbestos workers' allowance paid?
The allowance is paid to you from 1er day of the month following the date on which you qualify for early retirement or, if later, from 1er the day of the month following the filing of your application.
The allowance is paid each month, term expired.
Can the allowance for asbestos workers be combined with other income?
The Acata cannot be combined with other early retirement or early retirement benefits, unemployment benefits or a retirement pension.
However, cumulation is possible with a annuity of or of occupational disease.
A differential allowance may also be paid in addition to a retirement pension paid by a special scheme, an invalidity or survivor's pension, up to the amount of the Acata.
At the earliest at age 60 if you are entitled to a full pension
You are mandatory retired and the Acata ceases to be paid to you when you have the number of quarters of pension insurance required to qualify for a full rate retirement and at the earliest at 60.
You were born: | You can retire from: | Number of quarters required to have the full rate |
|---|---|---|
Between 1er January 1958 and December 31, 1960 | 62 years | 167 (41 years 9 months) |
Between 1er January 1961 and August 31, 1961 | 62 years | 168 (42 years old) |
Between 1er September 1961 and December 31, 1961 | 62 years and 3 months | 169 (42 years 3 months) |
1962 | 62 years and 6 months | 169 (42 years 3 months) |
Between 1er January 1963 and March 31, 1965 | 62 years and 9 months | 170 (42 years 6 months) |
Between 1er April 1965 and December 31, 1965 | 63 years | 171 (42 years 9 months) |
1966 | 63 years and 3 months | 172 (43 years old) |
1967 | 63 years and 6 months | 172 (43 years old) |
1968 | 63 years and 9 months | 172 (43 years old) |
From 1er January 1969 | 64 years | 172 (43 years old) |
From the age of 60 if you accept a discount pension
You can ask to be retired as soon as you turn 60.
If you do not have the number of quarters of pension insurance required to qualify for a full pension, your pension is subject to a haircut.
No later than age 65
You are mandatory retired at or before age 65 even if you do not have the number of quarters of pension insurance required to qualify for a full pension.
In this case, your retirement pension is granted at full rate (i.e. without discount).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Conditions, minimum age of departure, steps and resignation of the employee
General Confederation of Scops
National Marine Disabled Persons Institution (NMDI)