Family allocations make up the family-oriented sector of the French social security system, through a network known as the Caisse nationale des allocations familiales (National Office for Family Allocations) or CNAF and the 101 Caisse d'allocations familiales (Family Allocations Office, or CAF).
The institution serves more than 10 million beneficiaries.
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Background It was formalized by the decree of October 4, 1945.Decree 4th october 1945 sur le site de la CNAV
The allowances Family benefits are not taxable, but subject to the contribution for the reimbursement of social debt with the exception of social minima such as RSA, AAH and formerly API and RMI. Their amount is set by legislative texts as a percentage of the monthly basis for calculating Family Allowances.
They are in principle unassignable and unseizableL 553-4 du code de la sécurité sociale sur le site de Légifrance consulté le 29 août 2011. except:
in the event of fraud or false declaration; for the recovery of maintenance claims (canteen costs in particular); for the recovery of healthcare costs (hospitalization for example); regarding the housing allowance where benefits can be paid directly to the lessor in certain cases.
Without exception, family benefits are paid monthly and in arrearsArticle R 553-1 du code de la sécurité sociale sur le site de Légifrance, consulté le 23 août 2011 and are due from the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the conditions for entitlement are met.Article L 552-1 du code de la sécurité sociale sur le site de Légifrance, consulté le 23 août 2011 Subject to the rules specific to each service, the prescription is biennial.Article L 553-1 du code de la sécurité sociale sur le site de Légifrance, consulté le 23 août 2011 The end of entitlement is fixed on the first day of the calendar month during which the conditions for opening the entitlement cease to be met, except in the event of death (in this case, the termination of entitlement is the month following the death).Article L 552-1 du code de la sécurité sociale sur le site de Légifrance, consulté le 24 août 2011
In 2007, the family allowance funds paid the following benefits:
Birth, Adoption, Childcare
Allowance for the birth of a child (1710,49€ once) Allowance for a young child (171,06€/month) Adoption allowance Aid to the family to hire a licensed mother's assistant (between 374,12€ and 748,24€/month). Allowance for raising children at home (between 134,13€ and 530,72€/month) Parental education allowance (between 256€ and 350,92€/month)
Children
Child benefit (between 119-152€/month, more for each child between the ages of 11-20) Familial complement (155€/month) Allowance for parental presence (39-47€/day + 101€/month)
Back to school
Allowance for the new school year (286,01€, paid in September)
Housing
Housing aid Personalised housing aid Bonus for moving house (898-973€, once) Aid for scholarship students who move house (300€, once) Loan for improvement works to home (1% interest loan, maximum 1067,14€)
The single or separated parent
Single parent allowance (between 52,90€ and 748,20€) Family support allowance (83,76€ - 111,68€/month) Recovery of unpaid alimony (the CAF takes legal action to force the other parent to pay alimony)
The handicapped adult or child
Allocation for the education of a handicapped child (between 119,72€ - 1999,82€/month) Allocation for handicapped adults (621,27€)
The minimum salary
Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) since 1 June 2009 (440,86€ - 925,81€/month) Employment bonus: Prime for returning to work since 1er january 2016 (1000€, once)
References
External links The website of the CAF and CNAF