The Social Security system's Family branch is organized into a network of 101 Department-level funds and one national fund.
The Family Benefit Funds (Caisses d'allocations familiales/ CAF) pay family benefits:
Under Section L. 512-1 of the Social Security Code, "any French or foreign person residing in France with one or more dependent children also residing in France, is entitled to family benefits for those children".
Family benefits are awarded to persons acting as the real and ongoing custodian (food, housing, clothes) for legitimate, illegitimate, adopted, or foster children up to the age of:
How family benefits are calculated: family benefits are calculated as a percentage of the monthly family benefit base (BMAF). The BMAF is currently set at €466.44 as of April 1st, 2024. The BMAF is uprated on 1st April each year in line with the anticipated change in the average annual consumer price index excluding tobacco.
Family benefits include:
Family benefits are paid with no employment requirement from the 2nd dependent child residing in France. Family benefit rates are based on the income of the household or person with dependent children and the number of children. Net income from year N-2 is taken into account. There are 3 income brackets.
The flat-rate allowance is payable to families with at least 3 dependent children whose child benefit is reduced when one of the children reaches the age of 20 (the age limit for child benefit), is still living at home, and is not earning more than €1,082.87 in monthly income (€1,104.25 as of November 1st, 2024).
To qualify, the family must be entitled to child benefit for at least 3 children, including the child who has reached their twentieth birthday. The allowance is paid on behalf of the concerned child for a period of 12 months, beginning on the first day of the month of the child's 20th birthday up to the month preceding their 21st birthday.
As for family benefits, the amount of this allowance is divided by 2 or by 4 depending on household income (year N-2). However, a supplement can be paid on a sliding scale if household income for calendar year N-2 is slightly higher than the applicable income ceiling.
This is a means-tested benefit payable to families with at least 3 children aged between 3 and 21 years. The income ceiling (year N-2) varies based on number of dependent children and household makeup.
| Dependent children | Income level (year 2022) | Amount* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-income couple | Single-income couple | ||
| 3 children | €25,653 or less | €20,971 or less | €289.98 |
| Between €25,653 and €51,296 | Between €20,971 and €41,933 | €193.30 | |
| 4 children | €29,148 or less | €24,466 or less | €289.98 |
| Between €29,148 and €58,285 | Between €24,466 and €48,922 | €193.30 | |
| *After CRDS withholding. | |||
The amount of the family income supplement received by the family is the same whether there are 3 dependent children or more.
This allowance is paid to raise a child who is not receiving any support from one or both parents or as a top-up to a low child support award.
The family support allowance can also be paid as an advance if the other parent is behind on child support payments.
To be eligible, the claimant must meet the following requirements:
From 1st April 2024, this allowance comes to:
*After CRDS withholding.
The various benefits to offset the costs due to the arrival of a child and help pay for the cost of childcare are grouped together under the early childhood benefit program (Paje), which consists of:
Early childhood benefits include:
These grants, paid once during the 7th month of pregnancy or on arrival of an adopted child in the home, are intended to help cover the expenses related to the birth or adoption of a child.
They are means-tested. The income ceiling depends on the number of children in the family and the number of babies expected. The ceiling is higher when both parents are working and for single parents.
As of January 1st, 2024, the family's annual income for 2022 must not exceed €34,791 for a single-income family expecting 1 child or €45,979 for a dual-income household or a single parent.
The grant amounts to €1,066.30* for each birth and €2,132.58* for the adoption of a child under age 20. To qualify for the birth grant, the mother must have declared her pregnancy during the first 14 weeks.
*After CRDS withholding.
The basic allowance is paid following a birth or adoption grant award and helps with the child's maintenance and educational expenses. It is a means-tested benefit (with the same income ceiling as the birth grant) and is paid from the date of the child's birth to the last day of the month preceding their third birthday.
In the case of adoption, the basic allowance is paid during the three years following the child's arrival, provided that the child is under 20 years of age.
The full rate basic allowance comes to €193.30 while the partial rate is €96.66 (amounts after CRDS withholding). To be eligible for the full rate, income must not exceed €29,120*. The partial rate can be awarded up to €34,971*.
*These ceilings apply to single-income couples with one dependent child. Higher ceilings apply to single parents or when both parents have income. Income taken into account is for 2022.
The shared child-rearing benefit (prestation partagée d'éducation de l'enfant) allows a parent to stop working or cut back to part-time in order to look after their child who is under age 3, or under age 20 if adopted.
It is not means-tested and is payable from the first child.
Work requirement: the parent must have accrued 8 quarters of old-age insurance over:
Length of award
The shared child-rearing benefit (PreParE) is paid to each parent for:
The monthly amount of the PreParE benefit (from April 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025, after CRDS withholding) comes to:
The increased rate of PreParE is €732.97 per month (after CRDS withholding). It can be awarded to a parent of 3 or more children who has stopped all forms of employment. It is paid at a higher rate than the basic PreParE benefit but for a shorter period of time.
CMG is intended to offset childcare costs for children under the age of 6. It is paid to a household or parent who is working and:
This benefit includes:
The education allowance for a disabled child is a non-means tested allowance paid to those with a dependent child under age 20 (regardless of the child's order of birth in relation to their siblings) who has a permanent disability rating of:
This allowance is not payable for children placed in residential schools, for which all costs are paid by the health insurance system, the state or social welfare.
The amount of the allowance is €149.26 per month. Children with a disability rating of at least 80% are eligible for an allowance supplement, the amount of which varies according to their needs or degree of disability. To determine the amount of the supplement, the child's condition is classified by a Committee for the Rights and Self-dependency of Disabled Persons (CDAPH) in one of six categories, using a rating scale that assesses the special care needs and costs, the financial consequences arising from the disability and/or loss of income for a parent staying at home to look after the child, and the need for a paid carer.
The monthly amounts of the supplement (from April 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025) are as follows:
Individuals claiming AEEH and its supplement who are the sole provider and caregiver for a disabled child are entitled to a single-parent top-up. This is awarded when the child's state of health requires the single parent to stop working or cut back on his/her working hours, or to hire a paid caregiver.
On a category-by-category basis, this top-up comes to:
This top-up is not paid for category 1.
AEEH is awarded for a period the length of which is determined by the Committee for the Rights and Self-dependency of Disabled Persons (CDAPH) according to the following rules:
Under certain circumstances, CDAPH can award the AEEH allowance for an unlimited period of time.
Families claiming basic AEEH can choose:
The AEEH supplement may also be paid concurrently with the "3rd element" of the compensation benefit, which is designed to help towards home and vehicle conversion costs and transport costs.
AAH is awarded as a minimum-income benefit for people with disabilities.
Eligibility requirements are as follows:
The claimant's income for 2022 will be taken into account for AAH benefits paid in 2024.
Effective 1st October 2023, the AAH is calculated on an individual basis. The couple's income is not taken into account in the calculation of the AAH.
The maximum AAH award is €1,016.05 per month as from April 1st, 2024. This amount is awarded to individuals with zero income.
Individuals drawing any type of pension receive the difference between the amount of their pension and the maximum amount of the AAH.
AAH can be awarded for a period of:
If the insured fulfils the conditions, the AAH may be paid until the age of entitlement for a retirement pension.
An independent living supplement (Mva) of a monthly amount of €104.77 is paid
automatically to disabled persons occupying an independent home and receiving housing benefit, under certain conditions:
To learn more: monparcourshandicap.gouv.fr
This means-tested allowance is payable for any child enrolled in school and between the ages of 6 and 18. The amount payable depends on the age of the child in order to best reflect the family's actual expenses.
The allowance is payable to families or persons whose income is below a certain level (upper limits vary based on family makeup and number of dependent children). It is paid as a lump sum in August of each year. If the family's income is below the assessment ceiling, the allowance is paid at the full rate. If the family income is slightly above the assessment ceiling and below another limit decided by government order, a supplemental allowance is paid.
The full-rate allowance for fall 2024 (after CRDS withholding) is:
The daily parental attendance allowance is paid to any person looking after a child under 20 who is suffering from a disease or severe disability or has been in a serious accident and requires constant ongoing attention.
To qualify, the beneficiary must take time off work and must be granted parent's attendance leave. A doctor's certificate attesting to the child's medical condition must be submitted to the medical board of the claimant's Health Insurance Fund.
The amount of the daily allowance is €64.54 per day (€32.27 per half-day). It is paid for each day of leave from work, up to a maximum of 22 days per month.
The claimant is entitled to 310 days of paid leave, paid on a daily basis and to be taken over a three-year period depending on the child's needs.
If the monthly expenses necessitated by the child's condition exceed €126.20, a supplement of €126.20 (after CRDS withholding) is payable to families on incomes below a certain level, on production of the relevant receipts
*After CRDS withholding.
A lump-sum, means-tested benefit is paid following the death of a child under age 25 who was the member's current and ongoing dependent. This benefit is also due following the death of a child in or after the 20th week of pregnancy.
The amount of this benefit is determined by the parents' income and number of additional dependent children at the time of the child's death (year N-2).
As of April 1st, 2024, this benefit amounts to €2,251.16* for a family whose income for 2022 was:
This benefit amounts to €1,125.61* if income exceeds these amounts.
*After CRDS withholding.
The prime d'activité is paid by France's family benefits funds (Caf) and Agricultural social mutual funds (MSA) as an income supplement for low-wage salaried or self-employed workers.
Students or apprentices receiving a monthly net pre-tax income of over €1,082.87 (€1,104.25 as of November 1st, 2024) are also eligible for the prime d'activité.
The employment incentive (prime d'activité) is awarded at a rate which is:
A simulator is available on Caf's website to estimate prime d'activité eligibility and entitlements. The employment incentive is not paid if it amounts to under 15 euros per month.
Subject to means-testing, housing benefits may be granted:
To be eligible for the house move bonus, the claimant must fulfil these 3 conditions within the 6 months following the move:
The amount depends on the expenses actually incurred for the house move, within the limit of €1,119.46 for 3 dependent children as at 1st April 2024. A supplement of €93.29 is paid for each additional child.
Important information: All family benefits, except the special education allowance (AEEH), are subject to a 0.5% CRDS tax. The tax is collected directly by the Family Benefit Funds.
Please also see the family benefit rate overview table and the CAF website.