This article examines the influence of social position on the links between career breaks and the health of mothers after age 50. It draws on data collected from a sample of 32,357 mothers at the time of their inclusion in the Constances cohort and from 30 semi-structured interviews with women who have experienced a career break. Logit models with interaction effects are used to measure the probability, for these mothers, of reporting a depressive episode and functional limitations according to their employment trajectories at ages 18–50 and indicators of social position (educational level, partner’s occupational category). While for disadvantaged mothers, long or permanent career breaks are associated with a higher risk of functional limitations and depressive episodes, this is not observed at the top of the social gradient. The interviews shed light on this finding; depending on mothers’ social position, these types of career breaks have an unequal impact on their living conditions, working career and identity. They also point to the existence of mental health risks for highly educated mothers specifically linked to shorter career breaks, although this is not confirmed by the statistical results.