France - Other benefits
This chapter tells you what you need to know in order to claim social security benefits (apart from income support) in France.
If you have worked and paid social security contributions in another country of the European Union, your period of work and the contributions that you have made may be taken into account when your benefits are calculated in France.
In what situation can I claim?
The social minima, besides income support (RSA), include benefits intended for certain categories of job seekers, elderly people and disabled adults with low income.
What conditions do I need to meet?
- The specific solidarity allowance (allocation de solidarité spécifique, ASS) may be awarded, under certain conditions of prior activity and income, to job seekers having exhausted their right to the assistance allowance for return to work (allocation d’aide au retour à l’emploi, ARE).
- The solidarity allowance for elderly people (allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées, Aspa) is an allowance intended for elderly people who have low income, in order to guarantee them a minimum level of income.
- The supplementary invalidity allowance (allocation supplémentaire d’invalidité, Asi) is an allowance paid under certain conditions to people who have a disability with an early retirement or disability pension who have not reached the legal retirement age enabling them to receive the solidarity allowance for elderly people (Aspa).
- The disabled adults' allowance (allocation aux adultes handicapés, AAH) is a means-tested allowance that is paid to adults who are declared disabled, in order to guarantee them a minimum income.
- The activity allowance (prime d’activité) is a financial aid designed to encourage the activity and to support the purchasing power of workers with modest income.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Special solidarity allowance (ASS): the amount is set at €17.90 per day.
Solidarity allowance for elderly people (Aspa): the total depends on the claimant's income and family situation. Maximum: €961.08 per month (€1,492.08 if both spouses receive the allowance).
Supplementary invalidity allowance (Asi): the total depends on the claimant's income and family situation. Maximum: €535.42 per month (€1,482.21 if both spouses receive the allowance).
Disabled adults' allowance (AAH): the total varies according to the income. A person who has no income may receive the monthly maximum amount of €956.65.
Activity allowance: the amount is calculated for periods of 3 months. It depends on the income of the past three months and the structure of the household (flat-rate amount: €586.23).
Jargon busters
- RSA: Income support. This is intended to ensure unemployed people who have low income a minimum level of income, which varies according to the number of people in their household.
- Pôle emploi: a body that concentrates all the assistance necessary in order to find a job in the same place (reception, orientation, training, placement of job seekers and payment of a replacement income).
- Pacs: Civil solidarity pact. This is an agreement made between two adults, of different sexes or the same sex, in order to formalise their lives together.
Forms you may need to fill in
- Application form for solidarity allowance for elderly people (general system)
- Application form for solidarity allowance for elderly people (agricultural system).
- Application form for supplementary disability allowance (general system).
- Application form for additional disability allowance (agricultural system).
- Application form for disabled adults' allowance.
- Application form for activity allowance.
Know your rights
The following links provide further information about your rights. These sites are not the responsibility of the European Commission and therefore do not represent its viewpoints:
- More information on the ASS on the French administration's website.
- More information on benefits and social assistance for elderly people (Aspa and Asi) on the French administration's website.
- More information on Aspa on the Assurance retraite website.
- More information on Asi on the Assurance retraite website.
- More information on support for disabled adults on the CAF website.
Commission publication and websites:
Who do you need to contact?
Pôle emploi is the main contact for ASS:
The national pension fund deals with the Aspa and the Asi allocated to those who receive an early pension or survivor’s pension: https://www.lassuranceretraite.fr/portail-info/home.html.
The primary health insurance funds deal with Asi applications from recipients of an incapacity pension: page to find your local office.
For farmers, applications for Asi and Aspa should be addressed to an Agricultural Social Insurance Mutual Benefit Fund: office contact details.
Departmental houses for disabled people deal with the AAH: directory.