The Social Security system's Family branch is organised into a network of 101 Department-level funds and one national fund.
The French Family Allowance Fund (Caisses d'allocations familiales/CAF) pays family benefits:
Under Section L. 512-1 of the French 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 €478.16 as of April 1st, 2026. 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. The amounts of these benefits 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 family benefits), is still living at home, and is not earning more than €1,117.26.
To qualify, the family must be entitled to child benefit for at least 3 children, including the child who has reached their 20th 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 threshold.
This is a means-tested benefit payable to families with at least 3 children aged between 3 and 21 years. The income threshold (year N-2) varies based on number of dependent children and household makeup.
| Dependent children | Income level (year 2024) | Amount* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-income couple or single parent | Single-income couple | ||
| 3 children | €27,367 or less | €22,372 or less | €297.27 |
| Between €27,367 and €54,724 | Between €22,372 and €44,735 | €198.16 | |
| 4 children | €31,096 or less | €26,101 or less | €297.27 |
| Between €31,096 and €62,180 | Between €26,101 and €52,191 | €198.16 | |
| Per additional child | Between + €3,729 and + €7,456 | - | |
| *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:
As of 1 April 2025, 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 Programme (Paje), which includes:
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 threshold depends on the number of children in the family and the number of babies expected. The threshold is higher when both parents are working and for single parents.
As of 1 January 2026, the family's annual income for 2024 must not exceed €37,118 for a single-income family expecting 1 child or €49,054 for a dual-income household or a single parent.
The grant amounts to €1,093.08* for each birth and €2,186.17* for the adoption of a child under 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 and is paid from the date of the child's birth to the last day of the month preceding their 3rd 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.
The amount of income determines whether the allowance is granted at the full or partial rate:
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 20 in the case of adoption.
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 childcareg benefit (PreParE) is paid to each parent for:
The monthly amount of the PreParE benefit (from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, after CRDS withholding) comes to:
The increased rate of the PreParE is €751.39 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 (at most 8 months for each parent).
The Supplement for Free Choice of Childcare CMG is intended to offset childcare costs for children under 6. It is paid to a household or parent who is working and:
This benefit includes:
The Education Allowance for Children with Disabilities (AEEH) is a non-means tested allowance paid to those with a dependent child under age 20 whose degree of permanent disability is:
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 €153.01 per month. According to their needs or degree of disability, an allowance supplement may be paid. To determine the amount of the supplement, the child's condition is classified by a Commission on the Rights and Autonomy of People with Disabilities (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 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) are as follows:
Individuals claiming the AEEH and its supplement who are the sole provider and caregiver for a child with disabilities 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 carer.
On a category-by-category basis, this top-up comes to:
This top-up is not paid for category 1.
The 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):
Under certain conditions, the CDAPH may grant the AEEH for an indefinite period of time.
Families claiming the basic AEEH may choose:
The AEEH supplement may also be paid concurrently with the "3rd element" of the PCH, which is designed to help towards home and vehicle conversion costs and transport costs.
The AAH is a solidarity allowance designed to provide people with disabilities with a minimum level of income.
To be eligible, they must:
Effective as of 1 October 2023, the AAH is calculated on an individual basis. A couple's income is not taken into account in the calculation of the AAH.
The maximum AAH award is €1,041.59 per month as from 1 April 2026. This amount is awarded to individuals with zero income.
People who receive a pension or an annuity are paid the difference between the amount of their pension or annuity and the maximum amount of the AAH.
The AAH is awarded for periods of:
If the insured person meets the eligibility criteria, 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 people with disabilities 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 aged 6 to 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 people whose income is below a certain threshold (which varies 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 threshold, the allowance is paid at the full rate. If the family income is slightly above the assessment threshold and below another amount decided by government order, a supplemental allowance is paid.
The full-rate Back-to-School Allowance for the start of the 2026 school year (after CRDS withholding) amounts to:
The Daily Parental Care Allowance is paid to anyone who is responsible for a child under 20 who has a serious illness or disability, or who has suffered a serious accident requiring constant care.
To be eligible for this allowance, a person who temporarily stops working must provide their employer with proof of parental leave. A certificate from the attending doctor confirming the child's condition must be submitted for medical review to the health insurance fund to which the insured person belongs.
The amount of the daily allowance is €66.64 per day and €33.32 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 €129.36, a supplement of €129.36 (after CRDS withholding) is payable to families on incomes below a certain threshold, upon presentation of supporting documents.
A lump-sum, means-tested payment is made in the event of the death of a child under 25 who was the insured person's permanent dependent. This benefit is also due following the death of a child in or after the 20th week of pregnancy.
The amount of this payment is determined by the parents' income and number of dependent children (year N-2).
As of 1 April 2026, this payment amounts to €2,307.73* for a family whose income for 2024 does not exceed:
This payment amounts to €1,153.89* if income exceeds these amounts.
*After CRDS withholding.
The Employment Ceilings is paid by the French Family Allowance Fund (CAF) as an income supplement for low-income workers.
Students or apprentices receiving a monthly net pre-tax income of over €1,117.26 (as of 1 November 2026) are also eligible for the Employment Ceilings.
The amount of the Employment Ceilings depends on the recipient's income and that of their household members.
It is calculated automatically based on quarterly household income declarations.
A simulator is available on the CAF's website to estimate Employment Ceilings eligibility and entitlements. The Ceilings 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 relocation allowance, the insured person must meet these 3 conditions within 6 months of moving:
The amount depends on the expenses actually incurred for the house move, within the limit of €1,147.58 for 3 dependent children as of 1 April 2026. A supplement of €95.63 is paid for each additional child.
Important information: Family benefits, with the exception of the Education Allowance for Children with Disabilities (AEEH), are subject to the Contribution for the Repayment of the Social Debt (CRDS) at a rate of 0.5%. This contribution is deducted directly by the funds responsible for paying family benefits.
See also: summary table of family benefit amounts and the CAF website.