France Looks at Cutting Pension and Family Payments in 2027 Budget
Listen to the story
The French government wants to spend less money on social help in 2027. This includes money for old people and money for families.
The Finance Ministry, called Bercy, is looking at pensions. A pension is money that old people get every month after they stop working.
Right now, pensions go up every year because of inflation. Inflation means prices go up. When prices go up, pensions also go up.
The government wants to stop this for the highest pensions. This means big pensions may not go up anymore, even if prices go up.
This idea is called desindexation. It means pensions will not follow inflation anymore.
The government is also looking at family allowances. This is money that the state gives to families with children.
This is part of the 2027 budget. A budget is a plan for how much money the government will spend and get.
People say this is a trial balloon. This means the government is testing the idea before deciding.
This is happening one year before the presidential election in France. Many people will watch this idea closely.
Vocabulary15 words
- Bercy
- the place in Paris where France's Finance Ministry is; also means the ministry itself
- pension
- money that old people get every month after work
- inflation
- when prices of things go up
- desindexation
- stopping money from going up when prices go up
- family allowances
- money the state gives to families with children
- 2027 budget
- the money plan for the year 2027
- trial balloon
- a test idea to see what people think
- presidential election
- the vote to choose a new president
- social spending
- money the government spends to help people
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- Finance Ministry
- the government office that handles money
- state
- the government and its power
- budget
- a plan for money
- high pension
- a large monthly payment to an old person
- policy
- a plan or rule made by government
Quiz
Answer key
1. Spend less on social help 2. Pensions may not go up with inflation 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The French government wants to spend less money on _____ help in 2027.
The Finance Ministry, called _____, is looking at pensions.
A _____ is money that old people get every month after they stop working.
Right now, pensions go up every year because of _____.
The government wants to stop this for the _____ pensions.
This idea is called _____.
The government is also looking at family _____.
This is part of the 2027 _____.
People say this is a _____ _____.
This is happening one year before the presidential _____.