The end of your career is approaching, and with it, a precious account could slip through your fingers. Did you know that up to €5,000 can disappear when you retire? This money is yours, accumulated during your years of hard work. Don’t let this sum evaporate due to a lack of information.
Understanding how the CPF works before retirement
The Personal Training Account (CPA) is a financial resource often overlooked by workers nearing the end of their careers. Created in 2025, this system allows every private-sector employee to accumulate rights to finance professional training.
For employees working at least part-time, the CPF is automatically credited with €500 per year. This amount accumulates gradually up to a maximum ceiling of €5,000. People with disabilities and unskilled workers benefit from a more advantageous regime, with €800 per year and a ceiling of €8,000.
However, one crucial rule often escapes future retirees: as soon as you retire, your CPF account is automatically closed. This closure also occurs if you reach the age of 67, even if you continue to work. Any unused money is then reallocated to other assets, permanently depriving you of this sum.
Why use your CPF before retiring?
Not tapping into your CPF before retirement means forfeiting a significant sum that is rightfully owed to you. This financial loss may seem all the more regrettable in a context where many retirees are looking to supplement their income abroad, while solutions exist closer to home.
Regularly checking your CPF balance has a dual benefit. First, it allows you to avoid reaching the ceiling, which would block the accumulation of new rights. Second, gradually using your training allows you to acquire new skills throughout your career.
As your retirement approaches, the urgency to use your CPF becomes even more pressing. Checking your balance is simple: log in to moncompteformation.gouv.fr with your social security number to immediately find out how much is available.
Useful training to prepare for post-career
Contrary to popular belief, the CPF doesn’t only fund strictly professional training. Many courses can enrich your personal life after retirement. Learning a foreign language could enhance your future travels. Photography classes could add a new dimension to your hobbies. Creating a website might allow you to pursue a passion or maintain a social connection.
Since this year, a minimum contribution of €102.23 has been required for most training courses. However, there are some exceptions: job seekers are exempt, as are people receiving a top-up from their employer or using points from a professional prevention account.
The choice of training is entirely your personal decision. You can take these courses during your free time or, with your employer’s consent, during your working hours while maintaining your usual salary. This flexibility offers you the opportunity to diversify your final years of professional activity and smoothly begin your transition to retirement.
Act now to avoid losing your rights
Many future retirees, due to a lack of information, let this sometimes substantial sum evaporate. To avoid being among those who discover too late that their CPF account has been closed, take action. Check your balance today and visit the training programs that might interest you.
The process is quick and entirely paperless. With just a few clicks on the official platform, you can not only check your rights but also register directly for the training courses that interest you.
Your CPF represents an important social asset. Don’t let this opportunity slip away as you approach retirement. These 5,000 euros could not only fund a rewarding apprenticeship but also facilitate your adjustment to this new stage of life.
