Starting March 1 of this year, new rules for calculating family allowances come into force in France, meaning a reduction in benefits for parents of children aged 14-17. The previous increase, known as the 'majoration,' was paid automatically once a child turned 14. Now, to receive it, it is necessary to provide documentation proving the child is continuing their school education or undergoing vocational training. The government explains the change as a rationalization of spending and a need for greater fairness. Families with one child will lose 72 euros per month, while those with two or more children will lose 145 euros. The decision has drawn criticism from family organizations, which warn of the consequences for household budgets.
Change in Allowance Increase Rules
The main change involves abolishing the automatic allowance increase after a child's 14th birthday. From now on, payment of the increased amount is conditional on submitting proof that the child is continuing their education at school or within a vocational training program. This is the central element of the reform, intended to ensure the purposefulness of social spending.
Scale of Planned Losses
The reduction will financially affect families with children aged 14-17. For one child, the monthly loss will be 72 euros, amounting to 864 euros per year. For families with two or more children, the monthly amount to be repaid or deducted from future payments is 145 euros, or 1,740 euros per year. This is a direct impact on household budgets.
Schedule and Transitional Rules
The new regulations are effective from March 1, 2026. For families that have already received the increased allowance for February but whose children have discontinued their education, a mechanism for repaying the overpaid funds has been established. The change applies only to new decisions and payments from March and is not retroactive for earlier periods.
Reactions and Criticism of the Changes
The government's decision has met with sharp criticism from organizations representing families, such as the Union nationale des associations familiales. They emphasize that cutting benefits during a period of high inflation places an additional burden on already strained household budgets and may deepen the material difficulties of many families.
The French government is introducing a significant change to the family benefits system from March 1, 2026, resulting in a cut to allowances for parents of older children. The main reform concerns the so-called 'majoration,' an increased allowance paid for children over the age of 14. Previously, this increase was granted automatically upon the child reaching this age. The new regulations make its payment conditional on the child continuing their school education or participating in a vocational preparation program. Submission of appropriate certification is required. The government, represented by the Minister of Solidarity and Families, justifies the decision by citing the need to rationalize social spending and increase the system's fairness, so that funds actually reach families whose children are in the education process. The tangible financial consequences for households are significant. For a family with one child aged 14-17, this means a loss of 72 euros per month, amounting to 864 euros per year. For families with two or more children in this age bracket, the loss is 145 euros per month, or 1,740 euros per year. These amounts represent the direct difference between the previously paid allowance with the 'majoration' and the new, reduced base rate. The change is prospective and applies to payments from March. For families that have already received the increased amount for February but whose children are not continuing their education, a procedure for repaying the overpayment has been established. Authorities reassure that there is no question of penalties, only the need to settle unduly received funds.The French family allowance system, managed by the network of Family Allowance Funds (Caisses d'allocations familiales), has a long tradition dating back to the post-World War II period. Its main historical goal was a pro-family policy aimed at countering the decline in the birth rate and providing material support to households with children. Over the decades, the system has evolved, incorporating additional allowances, such as the 'majoration' for older children, introduced to support the education and living costs of teenagers. Reactions to the reform are predominantly negative. The Union nationale des associations familiales (UNAF), the main organization representing family interests in France, has spoken out. Its representatives emphasize the exceptionally ill-timed nature of this decision. In a period of persistently high inflation and a crisis in the purchasing power of many households, cutting social benefits is seen as an action that deepens the material difficulties of families. Critics point out that the reform hits middle-income and less affluent families, who are already struggling with rising living costs, including those related to youth education. They also argue there has been a lack of broader public debate on this change. The government maintains its position, viewing the change as a necessary step in modernizing and targeting the social assistance system, so that public funds are spent more effectively and reach those who actually meet specific conditions.