Social security: change in employment status

Verified 01 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your professional situation changes (for example, you have obtained a new job or you become a civil servant)? In some cases, a procedure is to be carried out with the Social Security. The formalities vary depending on whether you depend on the general scheme (CPAM: titleContent) or the agricultural scheme (MSA: titleContent). We take stock of your obligations.

General scheme

Several changes in employment situation can occur: the beginning of higher education, the change or loss of employment and retirement.

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Beginning of higher education

You do not have to take any action if you are already attached to the Social Security. This is because you remain attached to your current social protection system (usually that of your parents).

FYI  

To complete the reimbursements of the health insurance, you can join a complementary health.

Change of employment

The process varies depending on whether you become a civil servant (or an employee of a public sector company), a self-employed worker or an agricultural employee:

You become a civil servant (or employee of a public sector company)

You depend on a special social security scheme if you become:

  • Public servant
  • Or employee of a public company (examples: SNCF, Banque de France, RATP).

You must ask your employer before declaring a change of situation to the Health Insurance.

You become self-employed

If you become a craftsman, trader, industrialist or liberal profession, by creating or taking over an independent activity, you are automatically affiliated and covered by the general social security system, for your compulsory health coverage.

FYI  

The Health Insurance website details the rights and procedures as a self-employed person (examples: artist-author, intermittent performer, property renter).

You become a farm employee or farmer

The MSA is the compulsory social security scheme for employed and self-employed farmers.

By becoming a farm employee or farmer, you join the MSA.

Who shall I contact

Loss of employment

It is not necessary to report this change to your CPAM.

Retired

If you become a pensioner, the procedures are not the same if you receive several pensions or the minimum old-age pension:

General case

If you were employed and receive a retirement pension, you are entitled to reimbursement of your health costs in the event of illness and maternity during your entire retirement.

In practice, the National Old Age Insurance Fund (Cnav) reports your change of situation directly to your health insurance fund.

You have no no steps to take, but think about update your Vitale card.

Please note

In rare cases, your health insurance fund may contact you for an in-depth study of your situation. She will then tell you the information and documents to produce to regularize your situation.

You have several pensions or receive the minimum old-age pension

You are asked to contact your health insurance fund in the following cases:

  • You receive several retirement pensions from different organizations
  • You receive the minimum old-age pension.
Who shall I contact

FYI  

Health Insurance devotes a page dedicated to those who receive several retirement pensions paid by different social security schemes, including the general scheme.

Any person who deliberately refuses affiliate or who persists in not engaging the steps for his compulsory affiliation to a social security scheme is punishable by imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of €15,000 (or only one of these penalties).

Agricultural scheme

The MSA website presents the declarations and representations related to changes in circumstances.

For more information, you need to get closer to the MSA.

Who shall I contact

Any person who deliberately refuses affiliate or who persists in not engaging the steps for his compulsory affiliation to a social security scheme is punishable by imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of €15,000 (or only one of these penalties).

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