A recent decision of the European Union will allow more people to receive social benefits.
Today, any person residing legally in France can request the payment of family allowances. Even foreigners. There is no need to be of French nationality to perceive CAF money. Only three conditions are to be fulfilled: being on a regular stay in France, living in France and having at least one dependent child who also lives in France. Various documents are requested by the administration to attest to the regularity of the file.
It is the same for children. A birth certificate, a prefectural certificate, a medical certificate from the French Immigration and Integration Office or a residence permit must be presented. In addition, it should be justified that the entry of children into the territory was regular and legal. At least, so far. Because the rules have just changed.
This is what decided the Court of Justice of the European Unionmid-December. Now, CAF can pay social benefits to foreign families, legally residing in France, even if children have entered the territory illegally. So far, this was impossible. This concerns for example the birth premium, childcare aid or family allowances.
For the supranational instance, “it is contrary to the Union law to subordinate the right to family benefits of nationals of third countries residing regularly in France on an additional condition, consisting in having to justify regular entry on French territory children. “
However, it should be noted that since January 2024 and the vote of the law “to control immigration, improve integration”, the payment of family allowances and housing aid is authorized to foreigners in regular situations that After five years of presence in France or two and a half years of work in France.