Family Support Allowance (FSA): Separated parents
Verified 01 April 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Family support allowance (FSA) is paid by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) or the Agricultural Social Mutual Society (MSA) to a person who is raising his child alone without the help of one of his parents, subject to conditions.
In all cases, to be eligible for the BSO, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Living alone
- Reside in France
- Have at least 1 dependent child for which the other parent is no longer involved in the interview for at least 1 month or pays you support of less than €199.19
Reminder
The BSO is removed if you live as a couple.
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The other parent does not pay a pension
Maintenance has been fixed
The BSO is paid to you in advance.
Maintenance must be fixed by a judgment or a divorce agreement by mutual consent filed before a notary.
Your Caf (or your MSA) has 2 ways of acting:
- Act for you and on your behalf in order to recover the pension if the other parent does not pay it (not completely or regularly)
- Establish a recovery procedure against the other parent to recover up to 2 years of unpaid maintenance.
The other parent cannot pay child support
The FCA (or MSA) can pay you the BSO if the other parent cannot meet their obligation maintenance (insolvency, unemployment, incarceration, RSA, etc.).
She's checking the other parent's situation. Based on the evidence gathered, it tells you whether you need to take steps to determine support.
No maintenance has been fixed
The BSO is paid to you for 4 months.
To maintain your entitlement to the BSO beyond 4e months, you must within this period:
- if you are not in possession of any court order: take action before the family court judge of your domicile, in order to have maintenance fixed
- if you are in possession of a court decision not fixing maintenance: bring an action for review of the court decision before the same judge.
Who shall I contact
The pension paid is less than €199.19
If the amount of maintenance received is less than €199.19However, you receive the differential family support allowance. The CAF or the MSA pays you a supplement to reach €199.19.
If the difference is less than €15However, the differential BSO is not paid.
Please note
The differential BSO, due for each month, is paid in one installment every 3 months.
The approach differs depending on whether you are under the general (Cf) or agricultural (MSA) scheme:
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General case (Cf)
You must complete and send to your CFOC the Cerfa Application Form #12038 (and the accompanying Status Statement Form #11423).
Attach the documents requested in the form according to your situation.
Agricultural Scheme (AMM)
You must complete and send to your AMM the BSO application form (and the accompanying situation report form).
Attach the documents requested in the form (page 4) according to your situation.
Application for Family Support Allowance (FSA), Intermediation and Recovery Assistance (MSA)
The BSO amount is €199.19 per month per child.
The amount of the differential BSO is equal to the difference between the amount of the pension received and €199.19.
The allowance shall be payable from the month following the separation of the parents.
You have to differentiate according to whether you depend on the Caf: titleContent or the MSA: titleContent :
Caf
There are several changes that can occur.
Change in family situation
Quickly report any changes in your family situation (examples: birth of a child, marriage, separation, unemployment).
Change of domicile
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
MSA
Change in family situation
Quickly report any changes in your family situation (examples: birth of a child, marriage, separation, unemployment).
Example :
Being in a couple can open up new rights. Inquire with your MSA: titleContent.
You can also go on site or submit the form cerfa no. 11423 by mail.
Change of domicile
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Please note
If you change your department, the MSA of your home will automatically transfer the file to your new cash register. This transfer will take place as soon as your new address is registered.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you are dependent on the general diet
Family Allowance Fund (Caf)If you are dependent on the farm plan
Mutual Social Agricultural Organization (MSA)
Conditions of award
No payment less than € 15 (Article D523-3)
Monthly family benefits (start and end of entitlement)
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