The new tougher rules for claiming RSA low-income aid in France

New, tougher rules have come into force in France this year for those who receive the RSA (Revenu de solidarité active) low-income benefit.

What is the RSA?

The Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) is a French social welfare benefit that helps to support a person who has a very low income, to ensure they have a minimum level of money coming in.

Read also: Benefits in France: revenu de solidarité active (RSA) for work seekers
Read more: RSA: What is France’s back-to-work social benefit and who is eligible?

What are the new rules?

From 2025: 

• All RSA recipients will have to ‘work’ at least 15 hours a week to support their job seeking efforts

• They and their spouse will be automatically registered with France Travail (formerly called Pôle emploi, the French ‘Job Centre’). This is because the authorities see RSA as a household benefit that may also impact the recipient’s spouse. Children in the household will not be registered.

These new rules were tested in 49 pilot departments across 70,000 RSA recipients, before being rolled out nationwide this year, reports Le Particulier.

The aim is to “step up support towards sustainable employment and to facilitate professional integration”, said the CAF (Caisse des allocations familiales, family benefits office).

Commitment to work contract - and what does ‘work’ mean?

All RSA recipients must now sign a support and ‘commitment contract’ with a ‘referral organisation’, said France Travail. This organisation may be France Travail itself, the local department council, a body chosen by the council, a local mission, or Cap Emploi.

This contract will be personalised to take into account the jobseeker's situation, needs, plans and any difficulties that could affect their ability to work.

The contract will state that the person must ‘work’ at least 15 hours a week to receive RSA. If applicable, it will also specify actions that the person can take to find a job, and extra solutions that may help remove obstacles to work. These might include help with childcare, housing, disability, and access.

These 15 hours of ‘work’ may include:

• Actions to define a career plan and develop skills, including training, discovering professions through workplace placements, etc

• Actions and steps to take to enable access to rights, health, housing, childcare, etc.

• Job-seeking activities, such as completing job applications, and/or attending job-seeking workshops, interviews, etc.

Depending on their situation the recipient may carry out these 15 hours independently, or be supervised by a representative of their referral organisation.

Recipients must also regularly update France Travail on their progress and activity, via the France Travail website or by calling 3949.

By registering with France Travail, RSA recipients can use the organisation’s services, including help with applications for childcare and extra mobility assistance, group workshops, personalised advice, and online help videos.

Is anyone exempt from the new rules?

Those who are experiencing “particular and proven” difficulties - due to their health, single parent status, or disability - may be exempt from certain rules, particularly if they have a child under the age of 12. Full-time carers (e.g. of a child or relative) may also be exempt.

If the jobseeker does not comply with the terms in their contract, they may incur penalties. These are due to be specified in a new decree, published in the first half of this year. Until this new decree is published, the current penalties will remain in force.

Not technically a condition of the benefit

Although it is now mandatory for RSA recipients to draw up a contract with the 15 hours outlined (except for those exempted, mentioned above), the recipient’s completion of the hours is not directly linked to whether they continue to receive their RSA benefit or not.

Registration with France Travail has no impact on the payment of RSA by the organisation.

In order to ensure they continue to receive their RSA, recipients must continue to make their usual quarterly declaration of resources, in addition to the requirements laid out in their commitment contract.

Who can receive the RSA?

This benefit is available to people aged 25 or over (with no age limit for pregnant women, or those with at least one child) who have low incomes.

To receive the RSA, you must also: 

• Be living in France on a stable basis (for at least nine months of the year)

• Be a French national or citizen of the European Economic Area, or have a residence permit that has been valid for at least five years.