Q&A Caisse d'allocation familiale "CAF"

It is strongly advised to make your housing benefit application as soon as you move into the accommodation. The date of consideration for your application is not the date of your actual move-in but the date you submitted your housing benefit file.

Your application can be made online on the caf.fr website, under the section "My online services" > "I request a benefit."

If you are a student and encounter difficulties in making your application online, you can schedule an appointment with a CAF advisor from the Welcome Desk. To do this, you must create an account on the Welcome Desk website and validate its creation by email, then go to the menu, under the section "Make an appointment" > "CAF: request for housing benefit."

To estimate the amount of your housing benefit, you can perform a simulation beforehand on the caf.fr website under the section "Beneficiaries" > "Simulate." Note that the simulation is only an estimate and may differ from the estimated amount after the actual request.

If your accommodation is an apartment in social housing (CROUS, ...), the housing benefit is directly paid to the lessor. If you are in a different situation, the lessor chooses whether the allowance is paid to the landlord or the tenant. In the case where the lessor receives the allowance directly, they must adjust your rent accordingly.

The processing time for a file is 3 months in Haute-Garonne, and it should be noted that the first month of moving into the accommodation never entitles you to receive the APL.

Example: I move into my accommodation in August and apply for APL. My rights open for the month of September. My file is processed in November. The first payment (for the months of September, October, November) will be made from December 5th (then that of December in January, that of January in February, etc.).

Your identification number is your social security number. If you are an international student and do not have one yet, you should answer "no" to the question "do you have a social security number" and you will receive a temporary identifier.

You will need your social security number, your lease agreement, and your bank account details. Additional documents may be required depending on your personal situation.

You will need a copy of your identity document, your lease agreement, your bank account details (European bank account accepted), a proof of enrollment, a copy of your European health insurance card, and your birth certificate along with its official translation (these birth certificates can be provided within 6 months of the request).

You will need a copy of your passport, your lease agreement, your bank account details, your long-stay visa (along with its validation) or your residency card, and your birth certificate along with its official translation (these birth certificates can be provided within 6 months of the request).

The name of each flatmate must be on the lease agreement (unless you have separate leases), and each flatmate must apply for housing benefit separately.

As a student or researcher, you can schedule an appointment with the CAF at the Accueil - Welcome Desk. To do this, you must create an account on the Welcome Desk website and validate it via email, then go to the menu, under "Make an appointment" > "CAF: file follow-up."

You can upload your documents online on caf.fr, under "My account," then "My procedures" > "To submit." You can also send your documents by email to transmettreundocument.caf31@info-caf.fr, specifying your identification number in the subject line.

You can directly change your bank account details online on caf.fr, under "My account," then "My profile." You do not need to submit any documents.

You must declare your change of address on caf.fr as soon as possible, under "My account," then "My procedures" > "Declare a change." Once your change of address is taken into account, the CAF will stop paying your housing benefit. If you are moving within France and wish to receive housing benefit for your new accommodation, you will need to make a new request.

You must confirm on caf.fr that you will keep your accommodation and continue to pay your rent during the summer. Your housing benefit will then be maintained during the school vacation period. If you reside in a university residence, you will need to declare upon your return whether you are reoccupying your accommodation to continue receiving your benefits.

You must submit a new housing benefit request on your caf.fr account with your new address. Your request will be directly processed by the CAF of the department of your new residence.

You can find your CROUS residence rent certificate on messervices.etudiant, under the section "Cité’U" > "Download CAF certificate."

The amount of housing benefit varies depending on your rent, your income, the nature of the accommodation, and the place of residence. You can simulate your housing benefit on the caf.fr website under the section "Beneficiaries" > "Simulate." Note that the simulation is only an estimate and may differ from the estimated amount after the actual request.

Only one housing benefit request should be submitted, even if both your names appear on your lease agreement. The amount will be calculated for both individuals, taking into account the total household income and the total rent amount.

Your housing benefit is adjusted only if it is a scholarship based on social criteria. A scholarship certificate will be required when applying for housing benefit. You can download this document on messervices.etudiant.

Under an apprenticeship or professionalization contract, you are not considered a student for the calculation of your housing benefit. Your housing benefit is therefore calculated based on your income for the past 12 months. Under certain conditions, you may also be eligible for the activity bonus. For any specific questions related to housing benefit or the activity bonus, you can meet with a CAF agent by making an appointment on the Welcome Desk website.

The CAF only takes into account the student's income. If you have no income, simply check the corresponding box on the income statement. Note, however, that if your parents are subject to the ISF (Solidarity Wealth Tax), you are not entitled to housing benefit.

It depends on your age. You can simulate your housing benefit on the caf.fr website under "Beneficiaries" > "Simulate."

If your parents are beneficiaries, you must make a choice. If you receive housing benefit, you will no longer be considered dependent on your parents, and their benefits may decrease or be canceled.

No, if your landlord is an ancestor (father, mother, grandfather, grandmother) or a descendant (child, grandson/daughter, etc.) of yourself or your spouse or partner.

Yes, if the family relationship between you and your landlord is indirect (brother, sister, uncle, aunt, etc.).

No, housing benefit does not apply to accommodation abroad.

If you are leaving for a period of less than 4 months and continue to maintain your accommodation in France by paying the rent, you will continue to receive your housing benefit for your accommodation in France.

First, you must update your employment status by modifying your profile on caf.fr. Any change in employment status may result in a modification of your benefits. You can continue to receive housing benefit if your income does not exceed the current threshold.

First, you must update your personal situation by modifying your profile on caf.fr. Any change in family situation (cohabitation, separation, birth, civil partnership, etc.) will result in a modification of your benefits.