Family housing allowance (FLA)
Verified 01 January 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The Family Housing Allowance (FLA) is a financial aid designed to reduce the amount of your rent. It is paid because of your family situation (you receive family benefits, you have dependants...). The conditions differ depending on whether you are covered by the general scheme of the family allowance fund (CAF) or the agricultural scheme of the agricultural mutual benefit society (MSA).
Caf
To find out if you can perceive the ALF, you can use the simulator of the CAF.
Cif: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already have personalized housing assistance (LHA) or social housing allowance (SLA).
Conditions relating to the applicant
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.
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 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).
Foreign nationals must have a valid residence permit. Nationals of Member States of the European Union, of the other States Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and Switzerland is not obliged to have a residence permit.
Housing-related conditions
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.
Resource Requirements
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 assets from Pôle emploi, in particular from taxes.
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
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 in your household
- Value of your real estate and financial assets, as well as 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
FYI
you can consult your CFOA services for information on how to calculate the ALF.
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.
Any change of situation (move, bank details, family life...) must be declared to the Cfa.
Online
You must log in to your account with your recipient number and PIN.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
You must scan the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. Pôle emploi Notice of Decision).
On the spot
You must complete a change of situation report form available from your CFOC.
You will need to attach supporting documents to your application (e.g., Pôle emploi Notice of Decision).
You can appeal against the decision rejecting your request for FTA.
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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.
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 the following 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
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.
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 the following 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
Lower Rhine
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow the following 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
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.
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 the following 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
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.
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 the following 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
Maine and Loire
To challenge a decision of the FCA, you must follow the following 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
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.
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 MSA simulator.
MSA: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already have personalized housing assistance (LHA) or social housing allowance (SLA).
Conditions relating to the applicant
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.
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).
Foreign nationals must have a valid residence permit. Nationals of Member States of the European Union, of the other States Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and Switzerland is not obliged to have a residence permit.
Housing-related conditions
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.
Resource Requirements
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 assets from Pôle emploi, in particular from taxes.
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 have to fill out a form.
Housing allowance application (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 find out 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 in your household
- Value of your real estate and financial assets, as well as 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
FYI
You can consult your MSA services for information on how to calculate ALF.
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.
Any change of situation (move, bank details, family life...) must be reported to the MSA.
Online
You must log in to your account with your recipient number and PIN.
You must scan the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. Pôle emploi Notice of Decision).
On the spot
You must complete a change of situation report form available from the AMM.
You will need to attach supporting documents to your application (e.g., Pôle emploi Notice of Decision).
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
FYI
between the MSA's reply and the administrative court referral, you can, if you wish, use a mediation.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Construction and housing code: articles D842-1 to D842-4Rental
- Construction and housing code: articles R822-3 to R822-17Conditions of resources
- Construction and Housing Code: Articles R822-23 to R822-25Housing-related conditions
- Construction and housing code: articles R823-1 to D823-9Calculation and payment of aid
- Construction and housing code: articles R823-10 to D823-15Opening and extinguishment of rights
- Construction and housing code: articles D832-1 to D832-4Third-party payment
- Order of 23 December 2002 on the supporting documents for the application for housing allowance
- Order of 27 September 2019 on the calculation of personal housing assistance and removal allowance
- Decree No. 2016-1385 of 12 October 2016 on the taking into account of assets in the calculation of personal housing subsidies
- Ministerial reply of 19 October 2019 on housing subsidies for older people
- Ministerial reply of 26 November 2019 on housing allowances for beneficiaries of the allowance for disabled adults (AAH)
- Ministerial reply of 30 June 2020 on the contemporaneity of housing subsidies
- Applying for a housing allowance online
Online service
- Rent certificate or residence in a home
Form
- Housing allowance application (MSA)
Form
- Reporting of rents collected for housing assistance
Online service
- Statement of resources to AMM
Form
- Cif: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Simulator
- MSA: Estimate his entitlement to housing benefits and calculate his amount
Simulator
- Know what social benefits you may be entitled to
Simulator
FAQ
- What are the differences between personal housing support?
- Can you receive housing assistance if the property belongs to your family?
- Can a student receive housing assistance (APL, ALS, ALF)?
- Income tax - Should social and employer-provided benefits be reported?
- How do I use the Ombudsman of the CAF or the AMM?
- Can unclaimed family benefits be paid retroactively?
- Homelessness (SDF): How to obtain a residence?
- Custom Housing Assistance (APL)Service-Public.fr
- Social housing allowance (SLA)Service-Public.fr
- Elements for the calculation of personal housing assistanceMinistry of Housing
- Resource ceilings and rules for calculating housing allowancesLegifrance
