Christmas bonuses for lowest earners

LOW-INCOME households and the unemployed will get a one-off bonus next month to help them pay for Christmas.

The annual prime de Noël has been paid out by local caisses d'allocations familiales since 1998, but its renewal has to be agreed by the government each year.

Anti-poverty commissioner Martin Hirsch has confirmed that the bonus will be paid this year to help those on low incomes who have already been hit hard by the economic crisis.

The payout, which will be made automatically in December, applies to anyone who receives RSA income support (revenu de solidarité active).

For the first time it will also be given to single parents who receive the allocation pour parent isolé.

This year's bonus will be at the same level as last year - €152.45 for a single person, €228.67 for a couple and an extra €45 for each child.

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