Around a million French people will have to pay a little more every month from January.
The start of the new year is generally not good news. And 2025 promises to be a tough year for the wallet. Mutual insurance, car insurance, home insurance… Many bills will increase.
But that’s not all. Another expense, for which around a million French people are liable, will also be higher from January 1. However, those who have to pay it have probably forgotten it because it is very discreet. However, there is no escaping it.
In France, more and more families are single-parent, that is to say the father and mother of the child(ren) are separated. In 8 out of 10 cases, it is the mother who is responsible for the offspring. But separation does not mean abandonment, even less financial. The law requires it: alimony must be paid to the person who has custody of the children most of the time.
If a financial agreement can absolutely be reached amicably, many mothers (especially) are forced to go to court to obtain their due. However, when it is the judge who decides, the payment of the pension can be more restrictive than amicable.
In fact, the contracts provide that the amount of the pension increases every year, on a fixed date: January 1, July 1 or, possibly, on the “anniversary” date of the agreement. For an increase on January 1, 2025, the level of the increase corresponds to the inflation recorded between November 2023 and November 2024.
The figure was revealed by INSEE and it is 1.13%. Thus, if in 2024, the amount of the monthly pension was €170 (average amount according to State data), this will have to increase and go to €172 per month (the increase is always rounded), i.e. increase over the year of barely €24. If 30% of alimony is not paid, it is preferable not to discard it because, from now on, the CAF serves as an intermediary and the seizure of wages is thus facilitated in the event of non-payment.