Social contributions: the basics
Understand what social contributions are for, who pays them, and how they create rights.
Mission — Information
Understand your rights, simply
A clear, free and independent guide to help everyone in France better understand social contributions and the social benefits they may be entitled to.
Important disclaimer
Fafa Training is an independent association. This is not the official website of CESU, URSSAF or any government body. Our guide is purely informational and does not replace official procedures. For any procedure, please use the official bodies (urssaf.fr, cesu.urssaf.fr, service-public.fr).
Why this guide?
The French social-benefits system is rich but complex. Every year, billions of euros in benefits go unclaimed, simply because the people concerned do not know they are entitled to them, or do not know how to apply. This is especially true for older people and their carers.
Fafa Training has therefore gathered, in plain language, the essential information to understand social contributions and identify the main benefits. Our aim is not to handle the procedures for you, but to point you to the right official bodies.
What our guide covers
Benefits for older people
APA, home-support benefits, accommodation aid: an overview of the main schemes.
Housing benefits
APL, rehousing aid and emergency schemes for people in difficulty.
Home employment (CESU)
Understand how the declarative CESU works and the official steps — on the official site cesu.urssaf.fr.
Support for carers
Respite rights, carer's leave and support for those who look after a relative.
Where to apply?
The right people: CCAS, département, CAF, CARSAT, URSSAF and official help points.
How to use this guide
- Identify your situation and the type of benefit you are looking for.
- Read the matching section to understand the general conditions.
- Go to the official website indicated to check your eligibility.
- If needed, contact us: a volunteer can help you see things more clearly.
Useful official links
For any procedure, always use the official websites. Here are the main ones: