Are you eligible for prime d'activité?

Only 38% of eligible households have applied for a monthly benefit for which they could be eligible, according to government figures.

The number of households able to claim monthly prime d'activité payments - available to any salaried or self-employed worker aged 18 or over who earns up to 1.5 times the minimum wage - has risen to 5.6million in 2019, from 3.8million last year - but so far, CAF has received only 527,000 applications.

To find out if you are eligible, complete the form on the simulator on the CAF website (in French). Questions cover family circumstances, including the number of children and number of people in work in the household. You can then apply formally online.

The deadline for applications for the next round of payments is January 31. Payments will be due from February 5. Anyone currently in receipt of the bonus payment will see their payments increase automatically.

From 2020, the payment is expected to be automatic for all eligible households.