Thousands of Moms Unaware: Childcare Credits Can Boost Your Retirement!

In the United States, career interruptions are predominantly a female issue. Whether it’s part-time work following childbirth, parental leave, or temporarily stopping work to care for a sick or disabled child, these periods can significantly impact future pensions. Data from the Drees still shows today that women receive much lower pensions than men. And it’s not just a matter of salary. It’s also about the accumulation of small career breaks that end up costing a lot when retirement comes.

The issue is that many still believe that a pension is only built during active working years. Thus, when work slows down or stops for a few years, panic slowly starts to set in. Some mothers even realize too late that they could have continued to accrue rights throughout this period. However, information is indeed available on official websites. The CAF specifically explains that some parents can continue to accrue retirement rights even while significantly reducing their work to raise a child through a program called the Old Age Insurance for Stay-at-Home Parents (AVPF).

On its website, the agency clarifies that this mechanism “ensures continuity in the accrual of retirement rights for individuals who cease or reduce their professional activity to care for a child.” What’s most surprising is that many eligible parents are completely unaware that they are already enrolled in the program. Because affiliation can be automatic. The CAF states clearly in its FAQ: “You do not need to take any action if you meet all the conditions. The CAF automatically registers you and contributes to the old age insurance on your behalf.” As a result, some discover years later that quarters were indeed validated during their parental leave.

It’s important to note that eligibility for the AVPF depends on the household’s resources and the benefits received. For instance, a parent who receives the PreParE following childbirth and has reduced or stopped working might be eligible. Other families could also qualify through the family supplement, a benefit reserved for parents with at least three children. In this scenario, the household income must not exceed certain thresholds set by the CAF. By 2026, for example, a couple with three children and a single income must not earn more than $44,735 per year. The threshold increases to $54,724 for a couple where both parents work or for a single-parent family with three children. These amounts then increase with each additional child.

The AVPF can also apply to parents caring for a child with a disability or a severe illness. Receiving certain benefits, such as the daily parental presence allowance (AJPP) or the disabled child education allowance (AEEH), can enable parents to continue accruing retirement rights, even without engaging in professional activity. It’s this mix of criteria that explains why so many people overlook the program.

The CAF still advises regularly checking one’s situation on the Retirement Insurance website to avoid oversights or errors. If you do find a mistake or a missing element, it’s possible to request a correction by providing various proofs, such as benefit payment certificates or parental leave periods.