Whether you are expecting a child or are already a parent, in some circumstances you can obtain benefits, services and advice from the the Family Allowances Office (‘Caisse d’Allocations Familiales’ - CAF).
Family benefits
Among the main benefits dedicated to support families, you can find the early child benefit program (PAJE) or family allowance.
The early child benefit program (‘prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant’ - PAJE)
This comprises several different types of assistance, some of which depend on the household's resources, as for instance the birth grant and the basic allowance.
The birth grant ('prime à la naissance') is paid in a single instalment. It helps to cover the initial expenses associated with the birth and arrival of a child.
The basic allowance ('allocation de base') is paid every month until the month before the child's 3rd birthday. It enables parents of one child under the age of 3 to receive help with the child's upkeep and education.
More information on PAJE benefits
Family allowance ('allocations familiales')
You may be entitled to this allowance if you have at least two dependent children aged under 20 in France.
If you are already a CAF benefit recipient, payment begins automatically as soon as you declare the birth of your second child.
More information about the family allowance
Find information (in French) on all the CAF benefits (amounts, conditions, etc.) in
the CAF’s online guide to benefits or on
the CAF website.
Conditions to be met
The CAF takes conditions regarding the legality of your stay as well as your resources into account in determining whether you are entitled to these allowances.
Conditions regarding your stay and residence in France
If you are not a European (EU, EEE) or Swiss national, you must hold a valid residence permit and be resident in France.
You will also have to prove that any children born abroad entered the country legally.
Good to know
Certain residence documents, such as the visa marked ‘dispense temporaire de carte de séjour’ (temporarily exempted from applying for a residence permit), do not entitle you to CAF benefits.
Conditions regarding your resources
The income taken into consideration is your income and that of your spouse, whether acquired in France or abroad.
Applying for a benefit
Before applying, to get an idea of how much you could be entitled to, you can do a simulation on the CAF website.
Do a simulation on the CAF website
Applications are then also to be submitted online, on the CAF website, in the section called ‘Demander une prestation’.
If you are not known to the CAF (you are then a 'non-allocataire'), you will need to start by creating an online CAF account.
If you are already a CAF benefits recipient, you can submit your application via your CAF account directly.
