They will pay into a UK bank in euros (many UK banks will accept this) but then there’s your banks’ exchange rate to factor in. So need to consider whether inflexible exchange rate is more costly to you than keeping French account open and exchanging when you want.
Debby Wade’s solution of using Wise seems to solve this problem tho’.
We kept our French b/an open just long enough to receive my first pension payment. I then sent my Wise a/c details to CARSAT, asked them to now use that a/c, they did with no problems, so we could then finally close our French a/c. If we’re visiting the euro zone we have our Wise cards so no need to incur exchange charges.
Thanks Jane, certainly Cred Ags monthly charge of 9 plus euros is something to consider which is dead money.
I will keep account open until tax payments for 2025 are settled and then look for a new destination for my pension.
Thanks Debby, my Wise account might be the way to go.
With over 100 euros per year in charges with Cred Ag for the privilege of having an account with them its certainly worth considering.
The fiscal group on Face ache is adamant that you can’t do this and the mere entitlement to a French pension is enough to deny eligibility for an S1 from the UK.
I don’t have any skin in this game so I have no incentive to dig any deeper but, quite possibly, you had no option.
I’m paying 3 euros per month plus annual fee for my card. 9 euros seems steep.
Typical Credit Patate, & they charged us 10s of € (45€ maybe?) for a debit card too, & 35€ for a second card 
We jumped off the CA ship & onto the decks of the impeccable Fortuneo, whose basic joint account costs 1,50€ a month with two free debit cards.
@KarenLot many thanks forr yourheads up on fees.
I have contacted CA and cancelled my debit card as no longer used. I questioned the 9.18 euro monthly fee and now that there is very little movement on the account other than pension income my new monthly fee is 1.50 euros, result!
Many thanks xx
They don’t charge us anything. All reviews of it I have seen say it’s free.
Theoretical question. What would happen if you are a pensioner who only worked in the UK and have an S1, and then did some work here to supplement your pension earnings?
Devil is in the detail. The main issue is whether they could work, and then whether it was enough to trigger a change to their competent State.
I haven’t commented on this thread in an age and it may be the only thread I’ll ever mute in fourteen years of having waffled on here. Because the debate is worse than the crit’air one 
I have a UK state pension, an Irish state pension and a French state pension. The last country I worked in was Ireland, thus Ireland is my competent state, Ireland pays for my S1 regardless of my UK, French or, if I had one, Bongo Bongo Land state pension.
That’s how it works. And if it doesn’t work for you that way, fight like hell and don’t get bogged down in debates.
Edit; @JohnH Of course, why wouldn’t the UK try and renege on an expensive commitment that aged and frail pensioners don’t have the wherewithal to challenge?
I’m sure you remember
My understanding is that it’s the French who dig their heels in about it, rather than the UK.
What have winter fuel payments got to do with assessment of one’s competant State?
And as I’m sure you know it isn’t as straightforward as you pretend as in some circumstances “ Under EU coordination rules (such as Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004), if multiple states could theoretically be responsible for your healthcare costs as a pensioner, the country with the longest period of insurance/legislationbears the cost over the last-worked state”.
I mentioned winter fuel as a great example of the UK political will to rip off pensioners abroad.
I don’t care about that Jane, I’m well retired and it’s far too much information for a simple lad like me 
All I KNOW is my circumstances and I’d hope my example gives people the appetite to try and emulate it.
That’s all I’ll say on the matter and best of luck to all
But it’s cost neutral to the French, why would they care? It’s a cost saving for the UK.
Anyway, I’m sorry I posted now 
I’m going to press paws (
) on this topic.
explain ?
Purely anecdotal tales of CPAM/ Impôts not accepting S1 if the “holder” is entitled to, or is being paid, a French pension.
That depends, as they would be losing some tax income. Now we both know that might be chickenfeed compared to the health costs but that’s bureaucracy for you.
Yes, suggest you do bunny hop off. Individual experiences re just that and not “that’s how it works”. No point fighting if clearly outside framework.
Somewhat impossible for a pensioner to suddenly magic up a career spanning three countries if that was not their history so not sure how any one could suddenly emulate this.
Did I say that IMHO Jane you are too rules orientated. Life is grey, not black and white
But I still love you 
and value your advice.