Christmas bonus helps low earners

A PRIME de Nöel bonus will be paid out to people in certain low-income groups in the second half of this month.

Worth €152.45 for a single person – the same as last year – and varying depending on family make-up, the prime is aimed primarily at some 1.8 million people who claim the RSA socle, an income top-up mainly for people of working age.

Some 400,000 people on other income support plans also benefit, including RSA socle majoré (for single parents), allocation de solidarité spécifique, allocation equivalent retraite and allocation transitoire de solidarité.

The payment is €227.67 for a couple without children or a single person with one child, and up to €442.10 for a couple with four children.

The prime de Nöel was first allocated under Lionel Jospin in 1998 after pressure from activists for unemployed people, who continue to ask for it to be raised and for it to be extended to more people.

Under the 2013 budget, the aid is funded this year via raised social contributions on income from capital.

Photo: sxc Steve Woods