French disability benefits explained
Help is available in France if the UK has cut off your disability living allowance
Prestation de compensation du handicap (PCH):
The most likely candidate to replace Disability Living Allowance. It helps with autonomy requirements like help at home, home or car adaptations etc, with rates varying by needs. It is for those whose handicap started before age 60, but you can apply until 75. Some kinds of income are taken into account in working out the amount paid. You must be unable to do at least one “essential activity” or have serious difficulties in at least two. These include matters like getting around in the home or outside, personal care and communication. The similar allocation personnalisée d'autonomie (APA) is for over-60s.
Pension d'invalidité:
Equivalent to British long-term incapacity benefit, for those who have worked and paid social security contributions (including auto-entrepreneurs) in France but now have limited or no ability to work due to disability. The level paid varies by what you earned and paid in.
Allocation aux adultes handicapés (AAH):
This gives a minimum income for the disabled and cannot be combined with an old age pension or pension d'invalidité unless they are smaller than the amount of benefit you could get. It is mainly for seriously disabled people under 60, but there are exceptions. The income ceiling to have it is €8,179.56 for a single person and the payment varies by means, decreasing from a maximum of €631.63/month.
Carte d'invalidité: Cards for those with 80% disability and/or certain disability pensions, for priority on public transport and in queues at public places, tax advantages and discounts.
