Aid for those under 25 does not only include funding for studies. If you are unemployed, you can apply for the active solidarity income (RSA).
Active solidarity income (RSA)
Since September 1, 2010, young people under 25 (students and unemployed) can be beneficiaries of the RSA
What are the conditions for obtaining it?
- Be of French or European nationality;
or
- Reside in France for at least 5 years.
- Have at least one dependent child;
or
- Have worked for at least 2 years (as an employee or not), i.e. a total of 3,214 hours of work preceding the RSA application.
What steps should I take?
In order to obtain RSA, you must provide supporting documents for your professional activities (over the last two years), preceding the RSA application:
- for salaried activities: pay slips, employer certificate, employment contracts, etc.;
- for non-salaried activities: registration in the commercial register, accounting documents, etc.;
Please note that if you benefit from RSA while living with your parents, their housing or family allowances will not be modified.
What is the amount of the RSA?
If you are a single person, the amount of the RSA Jeune is €607.75 per month, after the revision of April 1, 2023.
The return to work assistance allowance (ARE)
If you are not employed and cannot receive unemployment benefits, ARE is a solution.
What are the conditions for obtaining it?
If you were an employee and therefore paid unemployment insurance contributions:
- for at least 6 months (i.e. 130 days or 910 hours), over the last 24 months (according to article 3 of the unemployment insurance regulations, annexed to decree no. 2019-797 of July 26, 2019).
If your last employment ended for reasons beyond your control:
- end of fixed-term contract;
- dismissal;
- resignation following the transfer of your spouse, etc.
What to do if you are not an employee?
If you have not accumulated 6 months of salaried activity, you are not eligible for ARE. However, you can submit an application if you have looked for work for 6 months, without success.
After having proven the extent of your efforts (by attaching refusal letters, for example) a commission will study your request.
Intensive support for young people (AIJ)
Since August 2019, job seekers aged 16 to 26 who are struggling to find a job can apply for AIJ. To do this, you must make a request to Pôle Emploi. This research assistance allows professional integration for young people in difficulty.
- This is a 3-month group support program,
or
- individual support over 6 months, with a dedicated advisor.
The youth employment contract
The Youth Commitment Contract (CEJ) represents an individual support system towards employment established by the State since March 1, 2022, replacing the Youth Guarantee. This program, accompanied by financial assistance, extends over a period of 6 to 12 months. During a weekly program of 15 to 20 hours, each participant benefits from the assistance of a dedicated advisor to develop a professional project and facilitate their integration into the world of work.
The CEJ is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 who are neither in education nor training, and who have been unemployed for several months. The age limit for applying for a Youth Engagement Contract is extended to 29 years for young people with disabilities. Although the legal working age is 16, this limit can be lowered under certain conditions.
To join the CEJ, interested young people must submit an application to a local mission or Pôle emploiTheir situation is then assessed during an interview to determine their eligibility for this support towards employment. In the event of a positive assessment, the young person can then conclude their contract.
A monthly CEJ allowance, which can reach €528 under conditions for a young adult is granted. For a young minor, this aid is reduced to €211.20.
The youth employment initiative contract
As part of the government program “One young person, one solution”, the Youth Employment Initiative Contract (CIE) aims to facilitate the professional integration of young people in companies in the commercial sector. Particularly those aged under 26, and up to 30 if they are disabled.
An employer in the commercial sector can recruit a young person into a CIE by committing to offering them a professional integration path. Two prerequisites are necessary:
- Appoint a tutor to supervise the young recruit.
- Set up training for young people.
To hire a young person under an Employment Initiative Contract, the employer must contact Pôle emploi, the local mission, or Cap emploi located near the company.
The financial assistance granted to the company for a CIE Jeune represents 47% of the minimum interprofessional growth wage (SMIC).
Volunteering
It exists various volunteer services offering individuals the opportunity to participate in missions of general interestwhether in France or abroad. Here are some of the volunteering opportunities available:
- Civic service, which offers six different contracts that can be carried out in a company, in an association or in the administration.
- The universal national service, intended for young people aged 15 to 17 and taking place outside school hours.
- Volunteering in the armed forces, allowing you to discover careers in the Army, the Air Force, the National Navy, the Army Health Service, or the National Gendarmerie.
These contracts are generally accessible to young people aged 18 to 25, with the exception of the SNU which concerns young people aged 15 to 17. The remuneration for volunteer services varies depending on the contract signed.
The activity bonus
In force since January 1, 2016, the activity bonus is an income supplement. It is granted, subject to resource conditions, to employed and self-employed adults. But also to employed students and apprentices. Around 5 million French people benefit from this aid today.
Will this aid be increased?
This aid was revised in October 2018 and saw its amount increased by a maximum of €20 per month. It was further increased in 2021 and 2022, by an additional €20 per month each year.
In addition, on April 1, 2023, an increase of 1,6% took place in order to increase the purchasing power of employees and low-income households.
What are the steps to take?
You must apply for an activity bonus from the family allowance fund (CAF) or the agricultural social mutual fund (MSA), which will pay it to you if your application is accepted.
Please note that Article 57 of the Rebsamen law of August 17, 2015, stipulates that the following persons cannot claim the activity bonus:
- Pupil,
- Student,
- Intern,
- Apprentice.
However, this condition does not apply to those who earned at least €932.29 per month in 2019. A trainee or apprentice is therefore fully eligible if their income exceeds this limit.
For trainees: Internship compensation is subject to tax exemption up to an annual minimum wage.
Driving license assistance
Regarding the driving license, young people aged 16 to 25 can receive assistance. This is a financing better known as “permitted at one euro per day”because its monthly payments are limited to €30 per day.
For the most precarious, it is possible to obtain a driving license grant, paid by local authorities.
In addition, the Pôle Emploi offers job seekers the possibility of passing the B driving license. The only condition is: The lack of a license must constitute an obstacle to employment. This funding of €1,200 is paid directly to the applicant’s driving school, in three installments, via transfer. Supporting documents must be provided no later than 12 months following the granting of the aid.
Please note that since January 1, 2019, any apprentice aged at least 18 can benefit from €500 in assistance to obtain their driving license. It is granted by apprentice training centers (CFA).
Specific aid available to those under 25
Housing allowances
What are the conditions for obtaining it?
A young person or student can receive housing assistance if:
- He is French or a foreigner with a valid residence permit,
- He rents decent accommodation,
- He is not related to the owner of the rented accommodation,
- He has resources below certain ceilings (salary, scholarship, etc.).
What help can I request?
Depending on his situation, he may benefit from the following assistance:
- Personalized housing assistance (APL), if he is single or a couple, with or without dependents and he rents subsidized accommodation
- Social housing allowance (ALS), granted under conditions similar to the APL
- Family housing allowance (ALF), if the student is single or in a couple with 1 dependent and rents non-approved accommodation.
These allowances are paid by the CAF.
The youth aid fund
The Youth Aid Fund (FAJ) constitutes a last resort financial aid system intended for young people in situations of social or professional insecurity. Falling under the jurisdiction of the departments, it can be requested several times during a year and takes into account emergency situations.
FAJ assistance may include:
- Financing of basic necessities such as food or hygiene products.
- Support for access to housing.
- Contribution to travel costs when other assistance is not available.
- Full or partial coverage of training costs.
- Facilitating access to medical care.
Eligibility criteria may vary from department to department, but generally, Beneficiaries must be between 18 and 25 years old to be eligible for the FAJ. In addition, they must not be beneficiaries of the RSA, the young RSA, or the AAH, and have limited resources, or even be in debt.
It is imperative to be accompanied by a social worker to apply for FAJ. To benefit from this support, you should contact the nearest local Mission, the CCAS or its young workers’ center. The amount of the Youth Aid Fund granted by each department is decided by the General Council and generally varies from €45 to €455. Although several types of support are possible, total assistance cannot exceed €1,000 per year. It is also possible to combine the FAJ with the Youth Commitment Contract (CEJ).
