Social Security, Your Rights in France

France has long enjoyed generous social security payments and is committed to trying to ensure social justice and quality of life for all people (permanently and officially) living within its borders

France is also attempting to ensure that the birth rate does not decline as it has in many european countries. To do this France offers generous financial social security benefits, and child benefit to people with two or more children. Apart from this there are a variety of other benefits available if you have a larger family (reduction in standing charges for telephone line rental, reduced rail fares. etc)

When I arrived in France ill prepared for the difficulties involved in earning a living, I was fortunate enough to fall into the safety net that is the social security system in France. I can attest to the efficiency of the system, and was able to use the opportunity to start my own business and develop my skills within France. Get assistance now if you need it to reach your potential within-france

I am able to use this personal experience along with my professional knowledge, experience and skill base to assist you to research and register for your entitlement to the social security benefits within France

If you have queries concerning social security and your particular situation do not allow them to stay unresolved, you can contact me to clarify and resolve them

All contact is treated in confidence, you and I can concentrate on your particular circumstances to draw up a step by step action plan, before contacting the social security system. It really is best to act sooner (I know from personal and professional experience) Please do not hesitate to contact me, as stated, in complete confidence

The information below is given by the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF). Use the link provided below to find your local CAF

The social security system within-france also offers a raft of further benefits 'L'Action Sociale' in favour of families

Where ever you come from within the European Union (or outside if you have a carte de sejour) you are entitled to the excellent benefits, that France provides. Usually all it takes to benefit is to justify that you, and your children, are permanent residents in france.

What types of financial benefits?

Your child benefit in france is usually only paid when you have two or more children.

There are a variety of possible benefits though that are still payable even if you have (or are going to have your first child) one child. These can include;

• Monthly payments throughout pregnancy
  
  
• A lump sum in the seventh month of pregnancy
  
  
• Monthly payments if you have given up or reduced your employment to care for your child, this will also automatically pay your contributions to a state pension
  
  
• Monthly Child care payments for registered child carers, (the social security pay the 'cotisations due on this also)
  
  
• Your child care expenses can be offset by a reduction in you yearly taxes, including summer camps
  
  
• Monthly payments for single parent status or if you require financial assistance to feed your children
  
  
• Disability benefits if your child has a disability
  
  
• Monthly payments if your child is severly ill, had a severe accident, or become disabled and you need to stop work to care for the child at home
  
  
• One off payments at the start of each school year to offset the costs involved for parents
  
  
• Automatic contributions to your state pension or 'couverture maladie' if you give up employment to care for your child
  
  
  

  Child Benefit Rates 2007
  
  

• For two children 119.13e
  
  
• For three children 271.7e
  
  
• For four children 424.37e
  
  
• For each additional child 152.63e
  
  
  

  Additional payments are made until the child reaches three years old
  
  

  Additional payments are made once the child reaches three years old, if you have at least three children aged below 21
  
  
  

  Housing Benefit
  
  If you rent a property, or have mortgage payments to meet on your principle residence and only have a modest income,(less than 7367.91 in 2007) it is likely that in France you will be eligible for social security assistance
  
  There are a variety of calculations that will be undertaken to find out the amount you are eligible for, these calculations include;
  
  

• Are there children or dependents involved, how many?
  
  
• The location of the property
  
  
• The rental or mortgage repayment amounts
  
  
• Household income
  
  
• There are other factors which, can or, will be taken into consideration by the French social security system, if in doubt ask!
  
  
  

  These payments can be made retrospectively, up to a maximum of three months
  
  

  Additional social security payments or loans can be made for;
  
  

• Moving house, if you have at least three children
  
  
• Renovation work, (not decorating) loans are available at 1% interest
  
  

  Income Support (RMI)
  
  As of September 2007 the criteria for qualifying for this benefit has been changed, now people will have to show that they have worked and contributed to the French system. As yet it is not clear how much someone has been expected to have worked, unlike unemployment benefit
  
  If you are refused RMI, you can, and should, appeal to your conseil regional. As it is not clear what people are expected to do if they are faced with no income, you should appeal to at least have this question answered
  
  If you are over 25 years old and find yourself without income in France, you could to be eligible to the French equivelent of income support. In France this is known as Revenu Minimum d'Insertion (RMI)
  
  If you are Pregnant or have at least one child to support, you do not need to be over 25 years old to qualify
  
  

  Should you qualify for this benefit you will also be able to;
  

• claim your right to free healthcare cover, under couverture maladie universal(CMU)and couverture complementaire sante
  
  

  The RMI is given for periods of three months at a time. You will then be sent a single page form to complete declaring your income for the previous three months. If you have no additional income within this period you will be granted RMI for the next three months.
  
  On claiming RMI you will be required to agree a contract, similar to a 'restart' agreement in the UK. It will detail the measures you propose to use to gain employment in France.
  
  Claiming RMI also opens up a range of training opportunities you will be able to undertake, at no charge to yourself. This may include retraining in a new vocation, French language classes and the like
  
  

  L'Action Sociale En Faveur Des Familles
  
  These additional benefits are often limited by the social security system at regional levels, that is to say thay are not automatically, nationally available, and may be limited in terms of qualifying criteria and numbers of families within an area who may qualify
  
  
  

• Work/Life balance Offers financial assistance to support parents to reconcile their professional and family life demands. This offers financial help with school holiday 'leisure activities'
  
  
• Family LifeOffers financial assistance to parents who employ a qualified professional to assist their child/children with school work at home
  
  
• Family EnvironmentOffers financial assistance to families to carry out home improvements and engage in community led leisure activities
  
  

The information given here is not exahustive and is given for guidance purposes only

You can use this link to enter the CAF website for further information in French

French social security web access Contact me, John Ewens, at within-france for further information, practical advice and assistance related to your specific circumstances. Let me assist you to make the most of your opportunities to succeed within France.

John Ewens is an Occupational Therapist registered to practice within the UK and France. Contact him in complete confidence on issues concerning you within-france