Single parent RSA

Verified 01 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A lone parent may benefit from the RSA it meets several conditions. The calculation of the amount depends on the resources and composition of the household. To obtain the RSA, it is necessary to make a 1st application. The procedure varies according to the affiliation fund (CAF or CMSA). We present you with the information you need to know.

What applies to you ?

Step-by-step approach

You must meet the following conditions:

Fulfill certain resource requirements
Reside in France in a stable and effective manner

Be a single parent, i.e. single, divorced, separated, widowed with dependent children or pregnant woman not living in a declared and permanent relationship and not sharing her resources.

Warning

if you are geographically separated from your partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner, cohabiting partner or cohabiting partner), you are not considered a single parent.

A lone parent is a single, divorced, separated or widowed person with dependent or pregnant children who is not living in a declared and permanent relationship and who does not share his or her income and responsibilities with a Civil partnership, partner or common-law partner.

You can apply for the RSA if you live in France in a stable and effective manner even if:

you are a student, student or intern,
you are on parental leave, sabbatical, unpaid or on standby.

You must also meet certain conditions of stay.

Warning

if you are geographically separated from your partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner, cohabiting partner or cohabiting partner), you are not considered a single parent.

Tableau - Conditions of residence to be fulfilled
Nationality of the beneficiary	Conditions to be fulfilled
European	Have right of residence in France and have lived there for at least 3 months at the time of application, or have had declared work in France and be unemployed (registered at France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)) at the time of application, or have declared work in France and be on sick leave at the time of application, or have declared work in France and be in vocational training at the time of application
Foreigner of another country	Have had for at least 5 years a residence permit enabling them to work in France (this condition does not apply to persons of Algerian nationality), or have a dependent child under 3 years of age and a residence permit, or have the resident card or an equivalent residence permit, or have refugee status, or be recognized stateless person, or be a beneficiary of the subsidiary protection

FYI

one EEA citizen or Swiss, who entered France to look for a job there, and who stays there for that reason alone, is not entitled to the RSA.

You can estimate your entitlements using a calculation simulator:

Estimate your right to the RSA (Caf)

Principle

The SSA amount shall be calculated taking into account:

a lump sum payment that varies according to the composition of the household and the number of dependent children
the resources taken into account by the household

The calculation formula is as follows: lump sum - resources taken into account for the household.

Lump sum

Tableau - SSA amount for a lone parent based on the number of children in the household
Number of children	SSA Amount
0	€816.32
1	€1,088.43
2	€1,360.54
Per additional child	€272.10

Surcharge

The guaranteed lump sum is increased. This increase is also called increase.

This increased lump sum shall be granted from the month in which one of the following events occurs:

Declaration of pregnancy
Birth of child
Care of a child
Separation, widowhood

The increased lump sum may be granted for 12 months, continuous or discontinuous, during a period of 18 months following the event.

If your youngest dependent child is under 3 years of age, the increased lump sum is granted until the age of 3.

Resources taken into account

The SSA amount is equal to the difference between the lump sum and all of your resources. The amount of resources retained corresponds to the monthly average of the resources received during the 3 months preceding your request.

Certain resources (RWA, daily allowances, housing allowances, family benefits, investment income, etc.) shall be taken into account, and others don't.

If you touch a housing aid or if you are hosted for free or proprietor of your accommodation, a lump sum is added to your resources. This package depends on the number of people in the household.

Tableau - Housing package based on the number of people in the household
Number of persons at home	Accommodation Package
1	€76.28
2	€152.57
3 or more	€188.80

Example :

For 1 lone parent with 2 dependent children without working income but receiving housing assistance and family allowances, the amount of the SSA is equal to €1,023.22 (€1,360.54-€188.80-€148.52).

Please note

if another person pays your rent, you receive a benefit that results in a lump sum valuation deductible from the SSA amount.

Online

RSA Request (Caf)

On the spot

You can make the request to your Cof, department services, CCAS from your home (in some cases) or from an association authorized by the department.

In all cases, check with these organizations beforehand if they are competent to process your request.

Depending on the department, you can drop off your file on site or send it by mail. In all cases, you will be offered an appointment to proceed with the processing of your request.

You must fill out the forms cerfa n°15481 (or n°15482 if you are self-employed) and cerfa n°14130.

The list of documents to be provided is on the last page of the form.

Application for RSA or Activity Premium

RSA - Additional application for a young person under 25 years of age

Please note

if you do not have a fixed or stable home, you should application for domiciliation.

Who shall I contact

Family Allowance Fund (Caf)

Department Services

Town Hall

By mail

You must fill in the forms cerfa n°15481 (or n°15482 if you are self-employed) and cerfa n°14130 and send to your Caf.

Application for RSA or Activity Premium

RSA - Additional application for a young person under 25 years of age

Who shall I contact

Family Allowance Fund (Caf)

After your file has been reviewed by the department, you will receive a notification for a period of 3 months. The qualifying period is the quarter prior to the quarter in which you receive the RSA.

The RSA is paid to you from 1^er the day of the month in which you filed your application. It is paid monthly, in due course by your department's FAC: for example, the RSA for the month of March is paid in April.

The RSA is not taxable.

FYI

advances may be granted by the department to ensure that the award procedure does not delay the payment of the RSA.

Since 1^er january 2025, SSA beneficiaries are enrolled in France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi).

This listing is obligatory and automaticHowever, there is no action to be taken.

Registration for France Travail has no impact on the payment of the RSA.

You should continue to file your quarterly income tax return with the FCA indicating any changes in circumstances that could impact your SSA payment.

You must sign a contract of employment including an action plan specifying your objectives for social and professional integration.

It is the employment contract that will determine the level of intensity of support for each person and the number of hours of weekly activity that must be completed by the jobseeker.

As part of this, RSA beneficiaries are expected to work 15 to 20 hours per week

These 15 to 20 hours of activity can include the following:

Immersion in company to refine your professional project
of obtaining a driving license
taking steps to access rights
participation in activities in the voluntary sector.

Some SSA beneficiaries may benefit from a reduction in the number of hours to be worked if they are facing difficulties in their personal and family life (disability, single parent disability of a child under 12).

FYI

The President of the Departmental Council may decide to suspend, in whole or in part and for a period which he shall determine, the payment of the RSA where, without legitimate reason, the beneficiary refuses to draw up or update the contract of employment or fails to comply with all or part of the obligations set out in that contract.

Every quarter, you have to declare your resources.

The rules differ depending on your home department:

Departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Aube, Hérault, Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Vendée

Online

RSA - Verify your quarterly pre-filled return

Please note

From 1^er october 2024 and until 1^er march 2025 and experimentally, your quarterly online reporting of resources is evolving. From now on, your wages, replacement income or other benefits (unemployment, pensions, pensions, sick leave, etc.) are pre-filled in net social amount for your entire life. hearth. All you have to do is look at your pre-filled resources, validate them and, if necessary, complete your return with your other resources collected over the period (child support for example).

The 3 months of resources you have to report change. For example, in October 2024, you will have to report resources paid for June, July and August 2024 (instead of July, August and September), and so on. Then in January 2025, you will have to report the resources collected for the months of September, October and November 2024. To help you, the months to fill in will be indicated in your return.

By mail

You must fill out the cerfa form n°14129 and send it to the MSA.

RSA - Report quarterly resources

Who shall I contact

Mutual Social Agricultural Organization (MSA)

Other Departments

Online

Statement of resources to AMM

By mail

You must fill out the cerfa form n°14129 and send it to the MSA.

RSA - Report quarterly resources

Who shall I contact

Mutual Social Agricultural Organization (MSA)

In case of a change of residence, family situation or professional situation, you must promptly inform the MSA. If you no longer qualify for the SSA, the payment ceases from 1^er the day of the month when you no longer fill them out.

Please note

No later than 1^er september 2025, the quarterly income statement of recipients of MSA funds will be pre-filled. Each beneficiary will have to check, complete if necessary his declaration and validate it.

Since 1^er march 2025, your quarterly online resource report is evolving.

Now your wages, replacement earnings or other benefits (unemployment, pensions, pensions, sick leave, etc.) are pre-filled net social amount for your entire hearth.

You must review your pre-filled resources, validate them and, if necessary, complete your return with your other resources collected over the period (child support for example).

With pre-fill, the calculation of RSA entitlements is based on resources from months M-2 to M-4, and no longer on those of months M-1 to M-3. For example, for the March 2025 statement, the pre-filled resources are those for November 2024, December 2024 and January 2025.

You can check your pre-filled declaration of resources on the Caf website:

RSA - Verify your quarterly pre-filled return

For more information on the pre-filled declaration of resources, you can contact your local credit union.

Who shall I contact

Family Allowance Fund (Caf)

Warning

In the event of a change of residence, family or professional situation, you must inform your Caf. If you no longer qualify for the SSA, the payment ceases from 1^er the day of the month when you no longer fill them out.

Obligation to seek employment

If your household resources are, on average, less than €500 per month, you must:

looking for a job,
or take the necessary steps to create your company,
or follow the insertion actions that are offered.

These obligations are set out in your personalized project for access to employment (PPAE)established with your France Travail adviser (formerly Pôle emploi).

You may not refuse more than 2 reasonable job offers as defined in your PPAE.

FYI

the person you live with as a couple is subject to the same rights and obligations as you.

Suspension of payment of the SSA

In case of non-compliance with your obligations

Department departments may decide to reduce your RSA, if you are:

For your own good and without any legitimate reason, your personalized project for access to employment (PPAE) or your contract of reciprocal commitments are not established within the time limits laid down or are not renewed
You do not comply, without legitimate reason, with the provisions set out in your PPAE or your contract of reciprocal commitments
You are removed by France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) from the list of jobseekers
You refuse to submit to the planned controls.

You are then invited to present your observations to a multidisciplinary team with the person of your choice.

This team is made up in particular of France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) staff, representatives of the departments, professionals of social and professional integration (for example, social assistant).

The reduction in the SSA can only take place after your comments have been submitted.

The department may decide to resume the payment of the RSA from the date of conclusion of the PPAE or one of the contracts of employment.

On 1^re penalty, the amount of your RSA can be reduced up to 80% for 1 to 3 months.

In the case of subsequent sanctions, the percentage reduction is fixed by the department's departments for 1 to 4 months.

However, the reduction may not exceed 50%, in the 2 cases, if your home includes people other than yourself.

At the end of a reduction period, department departments may remove you from the list of SSA recipients.

In case of hospitalization

The amount of your RSA is reduced by 50% if you meet the following 3 conditions:

You are hospitalized in a health care facility for more than 60 days
You are covered by health insurance
You don't live in pairs or you don't have a dependent.

If you are pregnant, this reduction does not apply.

This reduction takes effect on 2^e Quarterly review of your RSA after your hospitalization begins.

In case of imprisonment

Your RSA is suspended effective 2^e quarterly review after you start incarceration if you meet the following 2 conditions:

You are incarcerated for more than 60 days
You don't live in pairs and you have no dependants

If you live as a couple or have a dependent, their entitlement to the SSA is reviewed. You are no longer considered a member of the household.

Payment of the SSA shall resume as from 1^er the day of the month in which your incarceration ends.

You are not affected by this suspension if you have one or more dependent children.

In case of non-compliance with your obligations

Department departments may decide to reduce your RSA, if you are:

For your own good and without any legitimate reason, your personalized project for access to employment (PPAE) or your contract of reciprocal commitments are not established within the time limits laid down or are not renewed
You do not comply, without legitimate reason, with the provisions set out in your PPAE or your contract of reciprocal commitments
You are removed by France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) from the list of jobseekers
You refuse to submit to the planned controls.

You are then invited to present your observations to a multidisciplinary team with the person of your choice.

The reduction in the SSA can only take place after your comments have been submitted.

The department may decide to resume the payment of the RSA from the date of conclusion of the PPAE or one of the contracts of employment.

On 1^re penalty, the amount of your RSA can be reduced up to 80% for 1 to 3 months.

In the case of subsequent sanctions, the percentage reduction is fixed by the department's departments for 1 to 4 months.

However, the reduction may not exceed 50%, in the 2 cases, if your home includes people other than yourself.

At the end of a reduction period, department departments may remove you from the list of SSA recipients.

In case of hospitalization

The amount of your RSA is reduced by 50% if you meet the following 3 conditions:

You are hospitalized in a health care facility for more than 60 days
You are covered by health insurance
You don't live in pairs or you don't have a dependent.

If you are pregnant, this reduction does not apply.

This reduction takes effect on 2^e Quarterly review of your RSA after your hospitalization begins.

In case of imprisonment

Your RSA is suspended effective 2^e quarterly review after you start incarceration if you meet the following 2 conditions:

You are incarcerated for more than 60 days
You don't live in pairs and you have no dependants

If you live as a couple or have a dependent, their entitlement to the SSA is reviewed. You are no longer considered a member of the household.

Payment of the SSA shall resume as from 1^er the day of the month in which your incarceration ends.

You are not affected by this suspension if you have one or more dependent children.

Complaint and overpayment

When all the RSA allowances you were entitled to have not been paid to you, you can claim them for 2 years.

When you have received an overpayment from RSA, your Caf can ask you for a refund for 2 years. The overpayment is recovered by deductions from the future RSA.

If you no longer collect the SSA, the refund of the amounts wrongly collected is done by:

deduction from monthly payments of other future benefits (family benefits, disabled adult allowance, housing allowances),
transfer to the account of the CAF,
check payable to Mr. Cfa accounting officer,
mandate to the Banque Postale on the account number of your Cof or in cash.

Deductions are based on the composition of your home, your resources and your housing expenses.

Below €77However, the money wrongly collected is not recovered.

FYI

You can send a letter to your Cfa's Amicable Appeals Board requesting debt forgiveness.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Isère

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Grand Est

Meurthe-et-Moselle

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Lower Rhine

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Occitanie

Haute-Garonne

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Pays de la Loire

Loire-Atlantique

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Maine and Loire

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Other region

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Isère

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Grand Est

Meurthe-et-Moselle

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Lower Rhine

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Occitanie

Haute-Garonne

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Pays de la Loire

Loire-Atlantique

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Maine and Loire

To challenge a RSA decision (denial of award, challenge of award amount, etc.), you must follow the following steps:

Prior appeal to the president of the department preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal

Other department

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Other region

In order to challenge a decision on the RSA (refusal of allocation, challenge of the amount allocated, etc.), you must first address an administrative appeal to the president of the department.

Who shall I contact

Department Services

If the answer is unfavorable, you can then present a contentious appeal to the administrative court.

Change in family situation

You must quickly declare your change of situation.

Family Allowances and Benefits - Situation Statement (Cf)

FYI

even if you are not currently a recipient of family benefits, marrying up can give you new rights. Inquire with your Caf.

Who shall I contact

Family Allowance Fund (Caf)

Change of domicile

You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:

Online address change

Step-by-step approach

You can apply for the RSA if you live in France in a stable and effective manner even if:

you are a student, student or intern,
you are on parental leave, sabbatical, unpaid or on standby.

Warning

if you are geographically separated from your partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner, cohabiting partner or cohabiting partner), you are not considered a single parent.

You can apply for the RSA if you live in France in a stable and effective manner even if:

you are a student, student or intern,
you are on parental leave, sabbatical, unpaid or on standby.

You must also meet certain conditions of stay.

Warning

if you are geographically separated from your partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner, cohabiting partner or cohabiting partner), you are not considered a single parent.

Tableau - Conditions of residence to be fulfilled
Nationality of the beneficiary	Conditions to be fulfilled
European	Have right of residence in France and have lived there for at least 3 months at the time of application, or have had declared work in France and be unemployed (registered at France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)) at the time of application, or have declared work in France and be on sick leave at the time of application, or have declared work in France and be in vocational training at the time of application
Foreigner of another country	Have had for at least 5 years a residence permit enabling them to work in France (this condition does not apply to persons of Algerian nationality), or have a dependent child under 3 years of age and a residence permit, or have the resident card or an equivalent residence permit, or have refugee status, or be recognized stateless person, or be a beneficiary of the subsidiary protection

FYI

one EEA citizen or Swiss, who entered France to look for a job there, and who stays there for that reason alone, is not entitled to the RSA.

Principle

The SSA amount shall be calculated taking into account:

a lump sum payment that varies according to the composition of the household and the number of dependent children
the resources taken into account by the household

The calculation formula is as follows: lump sum - resources taken into account for the household.

Lump sum

Tableau - SSA amount for a lone parent based on the number of children in the household
Number of children	SSA Amount
0	€816.32
1	€1,088.43
2	€1,360.54
Per additional child	€272.10

Resources taken into account

Certain resources (RWA, daily allowances, housing allowances, family benefits, investment income, etc.) shall be taken into account, and others don't.

Tableau - Housing package based on the number of people in the household
Number of persons at home	Accommodation Package
1	€76.28
2	€152.57
3 or more	€188.80

Example :

Please note

if another person pays your rent, you receive a benefit that results in a lump sum valuation deductible from the SSA amount.

Online

RSA Request (MSA)

On the spot

You can apply at:

of your MSA,
or department departments,
or the CCAS from your home (if its board of directors has decided to hear RSA's applications, it is advisable to inquire in advance),
or an association authorized by the departments of the department.

In all cases, check with these organizations beforehand if they are competent to process your request.

Depending on the department, you can drop off your file on site or send it by mail. In all cases, you will be offered an appointment to proceed with the processing of your request.

You must fill out the forms cerfa n°15481 (or n°15482 if you are self-employed) and cerfa n°14130.

The list of documents to be provided is on the last page of the form.

Application for RSA or Activity Premium

RSA - Additional application for a young person under 25 years of age

Please note

if you do not have a fixed or stable home, you should application for domiciliation.

Who shall I contact

Mutual Social Agricultural Organization (MSA)

Department Services

Town Hall

By mail

You must complete the forms cerfa n°15481 (or n°15482 if you are self-employed) and cerfa n°14130 and send to your MSA.

Application for RSA or Activity Premium

RSA - Additional application for a young person under 25 years of age

After your file has been reviewed by the department, you will receive a notification for a period of 3 months. The qualifying period is the quarter prior to the quarter in which you receive the RSA.

The RSA is paid to you from 1^er the day of the month in which you filed your application. It is paid monthly, in due course by the MSA of your department: for example, the RSA of the month of March is paid in April.