Readers report rights refusals in France
Several readers have reported issues concerning the validity of health cards and entitlement to family benefits.
Yvette Oswin, 63, from Pays-de-la-Loire, said her carte vitale rights stopped on the original Brexit date of March 29.
Mrs Oswin, a former postwoman who moved with husband John, 73, from Somerset in March 2018, came with an S1 and joined the French system.
Visiting hospital this summer, she was told there was a problem with her carte.
She checked in her online space at the Cpam ameli.fr site and clicked to obtain an attestation de droits (statement of reimbursement rights) – only to be told to visit her Cpam.
It was then discovered that her and her husband’s cards had expired on March 29.
This was quickly rectified.“They said it was a mistake,” she said. “Our attestation had the end date of March 29 on it.”
Last year due to Brexit uncertainty, the Cpams’ national body told Connexion they were taking March 29, the original Brexit day, as the cut-off point for UK S1-holders’ rights.
This was resolved after France made a no-deal law in February saying the rights would continue for two years in a no-deal and Brexit was put off.
However, if similar problems arise, the advice is to speak directly to your Cpam.
A Cpam spokeswoman said they expect the Health Ministry to give instructions again to Cpams in the event of a no-deal.
Another reader in Deux-Sèvres reported problems obtaining her family’s allocation de rentrée scolaire from the Caf.
Louise Morgan’s entitlement was queried by her Caf, which said it needed to check the renewal of her residency right as an EU citizen.
Caf payments, such as the back-to-school or the family allowances, are based on legal residency, not nationality.
France has ruled that in a no-deal, Britons’ residency would continue with a requirement to obtain a carte de séjour within a year.
Entitlement should therefore not stop and should continue in the future for all who meet residency requirements.
Another French benefit, RSA income support, is listed in the French no-deal laws as continuing for a year, after which France says it would also continue for carte de séjour holders.
Connexion is awaiting a reply on whether this will also apply to Aspa pension top-up.
Usually, non-EU claimants must have held a residency card entitling them to work for at least 10 years.
