Who is eligible?
You might be eligible to France’s family allowance funds (caisses d’allocations familiales – CAF) if:
You have a valid visa/residence permit
France is your main place of residence
You have a minor child with you in France
Most of the time, family benefits are income-tested. This means that above a certain income threshold, either the family is no longer entitled to them or the amount of benefits paid is lower.
What documents are needed?
The documents to provide will depend on your situation.
CAF will require one of the following documents: Long-stay visa with residence permit (VLS-TS), residence permit or temporary residence permit, receipt of application for renewal or remporary residence permit for more than 3 months.
To prove that your child is legally resident in France, you must present a document that varies according to his or her situation:
If your child was born in France, a birth certificate of your child
If he/she came as part of a family reunification (except if you are Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Albanian, Montenegrin or San Marino), medical certificate from the Ofii: French Office of Immigration and Integration
If the child is between 16 and 18 years old and working or if he/she is of age and entitled to benefits, the child's residence permit
Certificate issued by the prefect, stating that the child entered France at the latest at the same time as one of his or her parents who has a private and family life residence permit because of family ties.
Family allowances will not be awarded unless the required documents are produced.
How to apply?
As you can see, the documents to provide largely depend on your situation. The best thing to do is to contact your local CAF who will be able to guide you and let you know if you are eligible to family allowances.