Retiring no longer necessarily means stopping work altogether. Active retirement is a scheme designed for those who, after meeting the requirements to retire, want to keep working while collecting part of their pension, and it's becoming increasingly relevant in retirement planning.
What active retirement is
It's the scheme that allows you to combine collecting your retirement pension with carrying out work, whether self-employed or as an employee, as long as certain requirements are met, including having reached retirement at the standard age (or under certain specific conditions for other cases) with 100% of the recognized regulatory base.
What percentage of the pension you receive
As a general rule, during active retirement you receive 50% of the recognized pension amount, in addition to the income from your compatible work. There are specific cases (such as certain self-employment schemes with employees, or specific situations regulated for certain groups) where the percentage can be higher, up to 100% in some specific cases.
Contributions during active retirement
While in active retirement status, you continue contributing to Social Security, though with special treatment: contributions during this period mainly fund solidarity benefits for the system (they generally don't generate new rights that would increase the pension already recognized), except for particular cases depending on the scheme and the latest regulatory changes.
Difference from simply "working without having formally retired"
It's important not to confuse active retirement with simply combining employment income with benefits other than retirement: active retirement requires having formally accessed the full retirement pension, and from there, deciding to go back to work on a compatible basis, following the specific rules that apply to this scheme.
Who this option might make sense for
Active retirement can be attractive for professionals who want to gradually scale back their activity without stopping work entirely, or who want to supplement their pension with additional income while staying active, always bearing in mind that you only receive a percentage of the full pension while in this situation, in exchange for continuing to earn income from compatible work.
Other similar schemes to consider
There are other related arrangements, such as partial retirement (combined with a relief contract before full retirement), which follow different rules than active retirement, so it's worth finding out which one best fits your specific situation before making a decision.
Simulate your full pension as a reference
Before considering active retirement, it helps to have a clear picture of your estimated full pension. Our retirement pension calculator gives you a rough initial estimate based on your salary and years contributed.