Reductions for large families

THE SNCF has announced a new kind of reduction card for low-income families with at least one child.

The carte enfant-famille will supplement the existing carte famille nombreuse, which is for families with at least three children and is also due to gain a number of additional advantages.

The new card, expected to be introduced in time for the February half-term, will offer ticket reductions of 25-50% to “modest-income” families with two parents (details were yet to be confirmed as we went to press) and to single-parent families with monthly incomes of less than €1,000.

The SNCF is expected to pay for the cost out of its profits, unlike for the carte famille nombreuse which the state subsidises. The carte famille nombreuse will continue to be for all large families, whatever their means.

Family Minister Nadine Morano has announced that 65 high-street names have signed an agreement to give a range of discounts to holders, some more generous than others.

The shops range from superstores like Intermarché, Ecomarché and Auchan, to the mail-order company La Redoute, which is slashing 20% on most of its catalogue, clothes stores like C&A, toy shop King Jouet, leisure venues like Parc Astérix and Futuroscope, accommodation like Novotel, eateries including Flunch and Buffalo Grill, car hire from Avis and Europcar and home tuition firms such as Acadomia and Profadom, which are reducing their joining fees.

The carte famille nombreuse has existed since 1921. It gives discounts on SNCF tickets, the RATP and RER (Paris local transport) and some regional transport.
Even before the new offers it had other offers including discounts on national museums and some community sporting activities and cinemas.

Ticket discounts vary from 30% (three children) to 75% (six children).
To apply for the carte famille nombreuse you need to have at least three children under 18.

The card, which lasts three years, costs €18 and each family member gets their own copy.
It takes about five weeks to get a card and you can request an “application kit” here.
You will need to send a photocopy of your passport, proof of residence such as an electricity bill or proof of work in France like a copy of your work contract. If you are from outside the EU you will need a photocopy of your carte de séjour.

For a full list of the latest deals on offer to holders of the Carte famille nombreuses see link 10 on in our links section.

Photo:Pudgeefeet