Family housing allowance (FLA)
Verified 01 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Looking for financial help to reduce your rent? You can receive the Family Housing Allowance (FLA) if you meet certain conditions. We tell you what the conditions and the procedure are depending on whether you are under the general scheme (Cf) or the agricultural scheme (MSA).
Caf
To find out if you can collect the ALF, you can use the Simulator of the Family Allowance Fund (CAF):
Cif: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Conditions related to your situation
You can apply for ALF if you are a tenant or sub-tenant.
The sub-tenant must not be related to the tenant or owner of the dwelling. This is for the accommodation of an elderly or disabled person in the home of the individual, under the family welcome, but also people under 30.
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already have personalized housing assistance (LHA) or social housing allowance (SLA).
To apply for ALF, you must be in one of the following situations:
- You benefit from family benefits or Education allowance for disabled children (AEEH)
- You have 1 dependent child up to 21 years of age, but are not entitled to family benefits or the EHIB
- You're married, with no dependent children
- You're pregnant, alone with no dependants since the 1ster day of the calendar month following 4e month of pregnancy to the calendar month of birth of your child
- You have a ascendant over the age of 65 (or 60, if unfit for work, deported veteran or veteran) and have no resources above the Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
- You have an ascendant in charge, descendant or collateral with a disability which results in a permanent disability of at least 80 % or which, because of his disability, is unable to obtain employment. This impossibility must be recognized by the Committee on the Rights and Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH).
If you are a foreigner, you must have a valid residence permit.
Conditions related to your accommodation
The ALF is awarded for your principal residence located in France and only if your accommodation meets certain standards of decency and minimum conditions of occupation.
Conditions related to your resources
The ALF shall be awarded on a means-tested basis and in accordance with certain ceilings varies depending on the composition of your home and the location of your accommodation.
The resources taken into account are those of the last 12 months. They are updated automatically every 3 months. So you don't have to do anything. Caf automatically recovers the amount of your funds from taxes and France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi).
FYI
a person attached to the tax shelter parents who pay real estate wealth tax (IFI) cannot benefit from the ALF.
Your request for ALF must be made directly online:
Applying for a housing allowance online
You must scan all of the following documents:
- Double-sided copy of your national identity card, passport, or birth certificate if you are a French national or a valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) identity statement in your name
- Rent certificate, dated and signed by your landlord (cerfa n°10842):
To find out the amount of the ALF, you can use the simulator of the CAF:
Cif: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
The amount of the ALF is calculated on the basis of scales which take into account the following elements:
- Your family situation and the number of dependants usually living in your household
- Your resources, the resources of the person with whom you live as a couple and those of people who usually live at home
- Value of your real estate and financial assets and those of the person with whom you live as a couple and of the persons usually living in your household, where this value is greater than €30,000
- Amount of your rent
The aid shall be paid from 1er the day of the month following the month in which your case was processed. Payment can take about 2 months.
They are paid every 5 months.
You have to declare any changes (move, bank details, family life...) to the Caf.
Online
You need to sign in to your account with your Allocator Number and PIN:
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
You must scan the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. France Travail decision notice).
On the spot
You must complete a change of situation report form available from your CFOC.
You will need to attach to your form the documents justifying your change of situation (for example, notice of decision France Travail).
You can appeal against the decision rejecting your request for FTA.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must make a prior appeal to the FCA by mail preferably by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the response of the FCA and the referral to the administrative tribunal, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Isère
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must make a prior appeal to the FCA by mail preferably by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the response of the FCA and the referral to the administrative tribunal, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Grand Est
Meurthe-et-Moselle
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Lower Rhine
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must make a prior appeal to the FCA by mail preferably by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the response of the FCA and the referral to the administrative tribunal, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Occitanie
Haute-Garonne
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must make a prior appeal to the FCA by mail preferably by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the response of the FCA and the referral to the administrative tribunal, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Pays de la Loire
Loire-Atlantique
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Maine and Loire
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow these steps :
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered post preferably with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Mandatory mediation before the Defender of Rights in case of failure
3. Actions before the Court of Justice administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must make a prior appeal to the FCA by mail preferably by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the response of the FCA and the referral to the administrative tribunal, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
MSA
To find out if you can collect the ALF, you can use the simulator of the agricultural social mutuality (MSA):
MSA: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Conditions related to your situation
You can apply for ALF if you are a tenant or sub-tenant.
The sub-tenant must not be related to the tenant or owner of the dwelling. This is for the accommodation of an elderly or disabled person in the home of the individual, under the family welcome, but also people under 30.
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already have personalized housing assistance (LHA) or social housing allowance (SLA).
To make an ALF request you must be in one of the following situations:
- You benefit from family benefits or Education allowance for disabled children (AEEH)
- You have 1 dependent child up to 21 years of age but are not entitled to family benefits or the AEEH
- You're married, with no dependent children
- You're pregnant, alone with no dependants since the 1ster day of the calendar month following 4eme month of pregnancy to the calendar month of birth of your child
- You have a ascendant over the age of 65 (or 60, if unfit for work, deported veteran or veteran) and have no resources above the Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
- You have an ascendant in charge, descendant or collateral with a disability which results in a permanent disability of at least 80 % or which, because of his disability, is unable to obtain employment. This impossibility must be recognized by the Committee on the Rights and Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH).
If you are a foreigner, you must have a valid residence permit.
Conditions related to your accommodation
The ALF is awarded for your principal residence located in France and only if your accommodation meets certain standards of decency and minimum conditions of occupation.
Conditions related to your resources
The ALF shall be awarded on a means-tested basis and in accordance with certain ceilings varies depending on the composition of your home and the location of your accommodation.
The resources taken into account are those of the last 12 months. They are updated automatically every 3 months. So you don't have to do anything. The MSA automatically recovers the amount of your resources from taxes and France Travail.
FYI
a person attached to the tax shelter parents who pay real estate wealth tax (IFI) cannot benefit from the ALF.
Your request for ALF must be made directly online or by mail.
Online
You must scan all of the following documents:
- Double-sided copy of your national identity card, passport, or birth certificate if you are a French national or a valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) identity statement in your name
- Rent certificate completed, dated and signed by your landlord
By mail
You must complete a form:
Application for accommodation allowance Cif and MSA
The form must be accompanied by another form for reporting resources:
You must also attach all of the following documents to your application:
- Double-sided copy of your national identity card, passport, or birth certificate if you are a French national or a valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) identity statement in your name
- Rent certificate completed, dated and signed by your landlord:
Rent certificate or residence in a home
All forms and documents should be sent to the AMM preferably by registered letter with notice of receipt.
To know the amount of the ALF, you can use the MSA simulator:
MSA: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
The amount of the ALF is calculated on the basis of scales which take into account the following elements:
- Your family situation and the number of dependants usually living in your household
- Your resources, the resources of the person with whom you live as a couple and those of people who usually live at home
- Value of your real estate and financial assets and those of the person with whom you live as a couple and of the persons usually living in your household, where this value is greater than €30,000
- Amount of your rent
The aid shall be paid from 1er the day of the month following the month in which your case was processed. Payment can take about 2 months.
They are paid every 5 months.
You must declare any changes (move, bank details, family life...) to the MSA.
Online
You need to sign in to your account with your Allocator Number and PIN:
You must scan the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. France Travail decision notice).
On the spot
You must complete a change of situation report form available from the AMM.
You will need to attach to your form the documents justifying your change of situation (for example, notice of decision France Travail).
You can appeal against the decision rejecting your request for FTA.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
To challenge a decision, you must first appeal to the MSA by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Isère
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision, you must first appeal to the MSA by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Grand Est
Meurthe-et-Moselle
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Lower Rhine
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision, you must first appeal to the MSA by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Occitanie
Haute-Garonne
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision, you must first appeal to the MSA by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Pays de la Loire
Loire-Atlantique
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Maine and Loire
To challenge an AMM decision, you must follow the following steps:
1. Make a prior appeal to the MSA preferably by registered post with notice of receipt (your letter must indicate the subject of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Defender of Rights
3. If your challenge is unsuccessful, take legal action before the administrative tribunal of your place of residence
Other department
To challenge a decision, you must first appeal to the MSA by registered mail with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If this fails, you can enter the administrative tribunal of your place of residence.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
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