Family Housing Allowance
Verified 01 January 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
The Family Housing Allowance (FHA) is a financial assistance to reduce 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 social mutuality (MSA).
General case (Caf)
To see if you can perceive ALF, you can use the Caf simulator.
Simulator Caf - Housing allowances (eligibility and amount)
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already benefit from the personalised housing assistance (LPA) or the social housing allowance (SLA).
Applicant Conditions
You can apply for an ALF if you are a tenant or subtenant.
The sub-tenant must not be related to the tenant or owner of the dwelling. This refers to the accommodation of an elderly or disabled person at the home of the individual, as part of the family welcome, but also people under 30.
To apply for an 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 of up to 21 years of age, but do not qualify for family benefits or the AEEH
- You're married with no dependent children
- You are pregnant, alone without dependants since 1to calendar month following the 4thth month of pregnancy and up to the calendar month of birth
- You have ascending over 65 years of age (or 60 years of age, if unfit for work, former deportee or veteran) and have no resources above the solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
- You have an ascendant, downhill or collateral with an infirmity resulting in a permanent disability of at least 80 % or who is unable to obtain employment owing to his disability. This impossibility must be recognised by the Committee on the Rights and Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH).
Foreign persons must have a valid residence permit. Nationals of Member States of European Unionother States Parties to the Agreement on European Economic Area and Switzerland are not obliged to have a residence permit.
Housing conditions
ALF is assigned for your main residence located in France and only if your accommodation meets certain criteria of decency and minimum conditions of occupation.
Resource Conditions
ALF shall be allocated under resource conditions and in accordance with certain ceilings varies depending on the composition of your home and the location of your home.
The resources taken into account are those of the last 12 months. They are updated automatically every 3 months. So you have no steps to take. The Caf automatically recovers the amount of your resources, especially from taxes, from Pôle emploi.
FYI
a person attached to tax centre of parents who pay property tax (IFI) cannot benefit from the FLA.
Your ALF request must be made directly online.
Online Housing Allowance Application
You must scan all of the following documents:
- Duplex copy of your national identity card, passport or birth certificate if you are a French citizen or copy of your valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) Statement in your name
- Rent certificate, dated and signed by your landlord
To find out the amount of the ALF, you can use the Caf simulator.
Simulator Caf - Housing allowances (eligibility and amount)
The amount of the ALF shall be calculated on the basis of scales which take into account the following:
- Your family situation and the number of dependants usually living in your home
- Your resources, those of the person you're with live together as well as those who usually live in your home
- Value of your real estate and financial assets, as well as of the person with whom you live as a couple and of the people who usually live in your home, when this value exceeds €30,000
- Amount of your rent
FYI
You can consult the services of your Caf for information on the ALF calculation methods.
Aid shall be paid from 1to day of the month following the month in which your file was processed. The payment can take about 2 months.
They are paid every 5 months.
Any change of situation (removal, bank details, family life...) must be reported to the Caf.
Online
You must sign in to your account with your tenant number and PIN.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
You must scan the documents that support your change of situation (for example, Pôle emploi decision notice).
On site
You must complete a Change of Status form available from your Caf.
You will need to attach to your form the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. Pôle emploi decision notice).
You may appeal against the decision rejecting your FLA application.
General case
In order to challenge a decision of the Caf, you must appeal to the Caf in advance by courier preferably by registered with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the Caf and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Isère
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Other
In order to challenge a decision of the Caf, you must appeal to the Caf in advance by courier preferably by registered with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the Caf and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Large East
Meurthe and Moselle
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Bas-Rhin
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Other
In order to challenge a decision of the Caf, you must appeal to the Caf in advance by courier preferably by registered with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the Caf and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Occitanie
Haute-Garonne
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Other
In order to challenge a decision of the Caf, you must appeal to the Caf in advance by courier preferably by registered with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the Caf and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Pays de la Loire
Loire-Atlantique
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Maine-et-Loire
To challenge a FCA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Pre-appeal to the Caf by registered mail with notice of receipt (your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision)
2. Compulsory mediation before the Advocate in case of failure
3. Litigation before the administrative court
Other
In order to challenge a decision of the Caf, you must appeal to the Caf in advance by courier preferably by registered with notice of receipt.
Your mail must indicate the subject matter of the dispute and you must attach the contested decision.
If you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the Caf and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Agricultural scheme (MSA)
To see if you can perceive ALF, you can use the MSA simulator.
MSA Simulator - Housing Allocations (Estimate and Amount)
Warning
the ALF is not granted if you already benefit from the personalised housing assistance (LPA) or the social housing allowance (SLA).
Applicant Conditions
You can apply for an ALF if you are a tenant or subtenant.
The sub-tenant must not be related to the tenant or owner of the dwelling. This refers to the accommodation of an elderly or disabled person at the home of the individual, as part of the family welcome, but also people under 30.
To apply for an 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 of up to 21 years of age but are not entitled to family benefits or the AEEH
- You're married with no dependent children
- You are pregnant, alone without dependants since 1to calendar month following the 4thth month of pregnancy and up to the calendar month of birth
- You have ascending over 65 years of age (or 60 years of age, if unfit for work, deported or veteran) and have no resources above the solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
- You have an ascendant, downhill or collateral with an infirmity resulting in a permanent disability of at least 80 % or who is unable to obtain employment owing to his disability. This impossibility must be recognised by the Committee on the Rights and Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH).
Foreign persons must have a valid residence permit. Nationals of Member States of European Unionother States Parties to the Agreement on European Economic Area and Switzerland are not obliged to have a residence permit.
Housing conditions
ALF is assigned for your main residence located in France and only if your accommodation meets certain criteria of decency and minimum conditions of occupation.
Resource Conditions
ALF shall be allocated under resource conditions and in accordance with certain ceilings varies depending on the composition of your home and the location of your home.
The resources taken into account are those of the last 12 months. They are updated automatically every 3 months. So you have no steps to take. The MSA automatically recovers the amount of your resources, especially from taxes, from Pôle emploi.
FYI
a person attached to tax centre of parents who pay property tax (IFI) cannot benefit from the FLA.
Your ALF request must be made directly online or by mail.
Online
You must scan all of the following documents:
- Duplex copy of your national identity card, passport or birth certificate if you are a French citizen or copy of your valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) Statement in your name
- Completed, dated and signed by your landlord
By mail
You must fill out a form.
Housing Allowance Application (MSA)
The form must be accompanied by another resource return form.
You must also attach all of the following documents to your application:
- Duplex copy of your national identity card, passport or birth certificate if you are a French citizen or copy of your valid residence permit in other cases
- Bank (Rib), Postal (Rip) or Savings (Rice) Statement in your name
- Completed, dated and signed by your landlord
All forms and documents should be sent to the MSA preferably by registered letter with notification of receipt.
You can use the MSA simulator to determine the amount of the ALF.
MSA Simulator - Housing Allocations (Estimate and Amount)
The amount of the ALF shall be calculated on the basis of scales which take into account the following:
- Your family situation and the number of dependants usually living in your home
- Your resources, those of the person you're with live together as well as those who usually live in your home
- Value of your real estate and financial assets, as well as of the person with whom you live as a couple and of the people who usually live in your home, when this value exceeds €30,000
- Amount of your rent
FYI
You can consult your MSA services for information on the ALF calculation methods.
Aid shall be paid from 1to day of the month following the month in which your file was processed. The payment can take about 2 months.
They are paid every 5 months.
Any change of situation (removal, bank details, family life...) must be reported to the MSA.
Online
You must sign in to your account with your tenant number and PIN.
You must scan the documents that support your change of situation (for example, Pôle emploi decision notice).
On site
You must complete a Change of Status form available from the MSA.
You will need to attach to your form the documents justifying your change of situation (e.g. Pôle emploi decision notice).
You may appeal against the decision rejecting your FLA application.
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 you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the MSA and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Isère
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Other
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 you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the MSA and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Large East
Meurthe and Moselle
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Bas-Rhin
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Other
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 you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the MSA and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Occitanie
Haute-Garonne
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Other
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 you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the MSA and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
Pays de la Loire
Loire-Atlantique
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Maine-et-Loire
To challenge an MSA decision, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a preliminary 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)
2. In the event of failure, initiate compulsory mediation before the Advocate
3. If your challenge is not successful, bring a legal action before the administrative court
Other
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 you fail, you can enter the administrative court.
FYI
between the reply of the MSA and the referral to the Administrative Court, you can, if you wish, use mediation.
- Construction and Housing Code: Articles D842-1 to D842-4Rental
- Building and Housing Code: items R822-3 to R822-17Resource Conditions
- Construction and Housing Code: items R822-23 to R822-25Housing conditions
- Construction and Housing Code: items R823-1 to D823-9Calculation and payment of aid
- Construction and Housing Code: items R823-10 to D823-15Opening and Extinguishing Rights
- Construction and Housing Code: Articles D832-1 to D832-4Third party payment
- Decision of 23 December 2002 on supporting documents for the application for housing allowance
- Order of 27 September 2019 relating to the calculation of personal housing aid and the moving premium
- Decree No. 2016-1385 of October 12, 2016 on the inclusion of property in the calculation of personal housing aids
- Ministerial Response of 19 October 2019 on Housing Assistance for Older Persons
- Departmental Response of November 26, 2019 on Housing Allowances for Adult Disability Allowance (AAH) Recipients
- Ministerial Response of 30 June 2020 on Contemporary Housing Assistance
- Online Housing Allowance Application
Online service
- Rent certificate or residence
Form
- Housing Allowance Application (MSA)
Form
- Statement of Rents Collected for Housing Assistance
Online service
- MSA Resource Statement
Form
- Simulator Caf - Housing allowances (eligibility and amount)
Simulator
- MSA Simulator - Housing Allocations (Estimate and Amount)
Simulator
- Know what benefits you may be entitled to
Simulator
FAQ
- What are the differences between housing benefits?
- Is a housing benefit available if the property belongs to the family?
- Can a student receive housing assistance (PLA, ALS, ALF)?
- Income tax: should social assistance be declared?
- How can I use the Caf or MSA mediator?
- Can unclaimed family benefits be paid retroactively?
- Without a permanent or fixed domicile (homeless): how do i get a home?
- Custom Housing Assistance (APL)Service-Public.fr
- Social housing allowance (SLA)Service-Public.fr
- Resource ceilings and rules for calculating housing allowancesLegifrance