A third of those eligible for French income support are not claiming it

One in three people in France eligible for the Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) benefit are not claiming it, new information reveals. 

This equates to around 560,000 households out of a total 1.51 million eligible.

More than 40% of people not accessing the benefit are missing out on payments equalling €400 or more per month.

Public research body Drees made the announcement, based on data from 2021, after MPs voted in favour of a bill seeking to reduce social security and tax fraud. 

“You can be entitled to the RSA and not receive it, because RSA payments are not automatic,” said Drees (Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques).

Various groups missing out 

The RSA is a top-up benefit for adults looking to get back into employment or set up their own business, seen as a way to give people extra time and resources to focus on these activities. 

It is paid out by the Caisse d’allocations familiales (Caf), but as Drees states applicants must apply themselves. 

This is in contrast to certain other benefits that are automatically paid out once an individual is eligible. 

It is means tested, with the amount paid out based on a person’s housing, income, and familial status. 

Read more about the RSA in our explainer article here. 

Around 41% of households not claiming the benefit would earn €400 or more per month from the RSA, with another 42% earning €200 or less (and remaining households falling somewhere in between).

Of the 560,000 households missing out on the benefit, around 340,000 were classed as ‘low-income’ by Drees.

Interestingly, Drees highlighted that those less likely to claim came from a higher socio-economic background than those actively already claiming the aid, even if they were from a low-income household.

Details include: 

• 30% of eligible non-claimants have a higher education (university) degree, compared to 18% of current beneficiaries

• 53% of those not claiming the benefit are employed, compared to 22% of claimants

• 26% of those who do not apply own their homes, compared to 9% of those who do

In addition, 22% of non-claimants are between 25 and 29 years old and alternate between short-term and precarious contracts (employees and/or self-employed), without ever claiming the benefit.

However, some struggling groups include single mothers with children (21% of eligible non-claimants), for whom the benefits would help cover childcare expenses as they looked for a return to work.

Digitalisation and rural access cited as issues

Drees believes that in many cases, the lack of application is due to the social stigma around claiming or applying for benefits, particularly for higher socio-economic groups. 

It also specifically highlighted younger and older groups as facing difficulties with applying, on both ends of the RSA spectrum.

For those aged 25 - 29 (applicants must be a minimum of 25 to apply for the benefit), there is a lack of awareness of the financial aid available, particularly for those in partial employment or in and out of work. 

This group “needs time to learn how to navigate the administrative procedures,” said Drees. 

RSA is offered to people up to a maximum age of 62, as it is a benefit intended to top-up those looking to work and not retirees. However, older applicants have been negatively impacted by the increasing digitalisation of administrative life in France, says Drees.

Finally, those in rural areas also struggle, as they are more isolated from Caf offices where they can seek information and get help with their application. 

If you believe you are eligible for RSA but are unsure, you can speak with staff members at your local Caf office, or go to your nearest France Services help centre.