Family allowances in France
France pays Family Allowances via the CAF from the 2nd child onwards (means-tested since 2015), supplemented by the Prestation d’Accueil du Jeune Enfant (PAJE) for ages 0–3, the Family Supplement for low-income families with 3+ children, and a 16-week maternity leave at 100% via Social Security.
CAF Family Allowances from 2nd child, income-tested (3 bands: €142, €71, €35/month for 2 children). PAJE 0–3 (birth grant €1,067, base allowance €184/month, CMG, PreParE). Family Supplement €192–289/month for 3+ children low-income families. ARS back-to-school €423–461. 16-week maternity leave at 100% via Sécu, 28-day paternity (2021 reform).
Family Allowances — CAF
Paid by the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) from the 2nd child, modulated in 3 income bands since 2015:
- Band 1 (≤ €74,966 for 2 children): €142/month for 2 children, €324 for 3 children, +€182 per additional child
- Band 2 (€74,966–99,922): €71/month for 2 children, €162 for 3, +€91 per additional
- Band 3 (> €99,922): €35/month for 2 children, €81 for 3, +€45 per additional
- Bonus +€71–285/month per child ≥ 14
- Paid until age 20 (if child does not earn > €1,080/month)
PAJE — Young Child Welcome Benefit
For children under 3, means-tested:
- Birth grant: €1,067 paid in the 7th month of pregnancy (income < €42,892 for 1 child)
- Adoption grant: €2,134
- Base allowance: €184.62/month (full rate) or €92.31/month (partial) until age 3
- CMG (Free Choice Childcare Mode Supplement): covers nanny/nursery costs (€90–732/month by income)
- PreParE (Shared Child-rearing Benefit): €446/month if full-time parental leave
Family Supplement (Complément Familial)
For families with 3+ dependent children, means-tested:
- Standard rate: €192.03/month (income ≤ €21,016 for couple with 3 children)
- Increased rate: €288.71/month (very modest income)
- Paid for children aged 3–21
- Single-parent families: higher income thresholds
ARS — Back-to-school Allowance
Paid every August for the school year start:
- Ages 6–10: €423
- Ages 11–14: €446
- Ages 15–18: €461
- Income cap: ≤ €27,141 for 1 child (progressive cap)
- Paid to ~3 million families
Maternity leave — 16 weeks (1st-2nd child)
Managed by Social Security (CPAM):
- 1st-2nd child: 16 weeks (6 before + 10 after birth)
- 3rd child and beyond: 26 weeks (8 before + 18 after)
- Twins: 34 weeks
- Triplets and beyond: 46 weeks
- Benefit: 100% of salary (capped at €3,864/month in 2025)
- Conditions: 6 months of Social Security affiliation + 150h worked
Paternity leave — 28 days (2021 reform)
Extended in July 2021:
- 28 days total (vs 14 before)
- 3 mandatory days paid by employer (at 100%)
- 25 days paid by Social Security (100% capped salary)
- Doubled to 32 days for multiple birth
- To use within 6 months of birth
- 4 mandatory days (employer sanctions if refused)
AAH, AEEH, AJPA — other allowances
- AEEH (Disabled Child Education Allowance): €149–1,287/month by degree of disability
- AJPA (Family Caregiver Daily Allowance): €64.54/day for family caregiver
- Family Support Allowance (ASF): €195/month per child for lone parent
- ASF birth grant: paid in 7th month of pregnancy
Nurseries and childcare
Massive public network:
- Collective nurseries: CAF rates (€1–4/hour by income, max €5/hour)
- Childminders: CAF-accredited, covered via CMG
- Nursery school: compulsory from age 3 (2019 law), free in public
- School canteen: income-modulated rates
- CAF social pricing: 80–90% of costs covered for low-income families
How Illizeo helps on the HR side
Illizeo is not a consulting firm or a paying body. However, our HR layer manages all of an employee’s family variables: family composition (dependent children, ages), supporting documents, event declarations (birth, adoption), leave workflows (maternity, paternity, parental) with key date calculations, and automatic feed to your payroll software.
Official sources
Manage the HR side of family allowances
From birth declarations to parental leave calculation, Illizeo centralises variables and feeds your payroll automatically.
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