To apply for RSA, you must:

• justify that your household resources are low and do not exceed the "ceilings" (the limits that entitle you to this aid)
• live in France for at least 9 months a year and have an address (even a registered address )
• have international protection (refugee status, stateless person status, or beneficiary of subsidiary protection, or a 10-year residence permit, or a residence permit with authorization to work for at least 5 years)
• have already applied for other available financial assistance, such as unemployment benefits from France Travail or retirement pension if you are entitled to it
• be over 25 years old.

However, there are two exceptions:

• If you are between 18 and 25 years old, have no children, and have worked full-time for a minimum of 2 years during the last 3 years
• if you are a single parent with one or more children or if you are pregnant.

Before applying, to check if you are entitled to receive RSA, you must first do a simulation on the CAF website .

• If the simulator indicates that you are eligible to receive RSA, it will show an approximate amount. To be sure of receiving it and to know exactly how much, you must register with the CAF and officially submit a "benefit application" (step 3).
• If the simulator indicates that you are not entitled to receive RSA, an explanation is given.
• If you made a mistake in answering the questions, you can start again.

For each person in the household:

• Letter with the OFPRA decision granting international protection (refugee status, stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary protection) or letter of the CNDA decision (you can hide your personal story in the document sent to the CAF)
• OFPRA birth certificate or OFII provisional family certificate (see "Good to know" below)
• Residence permit or receipt for a residence permit application
• Health insurance card (or proof of entitlement)
• Health insurance card, if you have one
• Bank account details (RIB) for your current account or savings account
• Company registration certificate if you have a self-employed professional activity (freelancer, trader, craftsman, member of a liberal profession, etc.)
• Proof of all your household's resources for the last 3 months (pay slips, France Travail payment certificates, Health Insurance benefits, disability or alimony pensions, retirement, turnover declaration...).

Documents to add, depending on your situation:

• Certificate of completion of ADA (asylum seeker allowance) payments from the OFII
• If you are pregnant: pregnancy declaration made by the doctor
• If you are divorced: divorce decree
• If you are married: marriage certificate
• If you are separated: sworn statement of separation
• If you have children: family record book and birth certificate.

You now need to choose whether you apply for RSA online (step 3), or in a CAF agency (step 4).

The first step is to have all your documents in digital format.

> Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: " Scanning a document "

Next, if you are already registered with the CAF, log in to your personal space by clicking here.

If you are not registered, you must apply for benefits online, and then create your account.

> Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: " Register and apply for assistance from the CAF"

Click on:

• "Help and procedures"
• "My procedures" section
• "Access my procedures"
• "Apply for benefits online"
• "Professional life"
• "(RSA) Active Solidarity Income"
• "Make the application".

Answer the questions, the same as for the simulation (step 1) and send your documents.

Warning: RSA payments are sent from the date you submit your application (even if incomplete). If there are long waiting times to contact a social worker, don't wait and go directly to a CAF office near you (step 4).

If you applied for RSA online, go directly to step 6.

If you want to make an appointment to apply for RSA with an advisor at a CAF agency, go to the website and specify your postal code in the top right corner under "CAF".

You can then make an appointment:

• Online: "Contact us " at the bottom of the page, "Make an appointment"
• By phone: call 3230
• directly on site, at the CAF agency near you

If you have an address in Paris, you can also go to a Parisian space for integration. A professional can help you apply for RSA after you have made an appointment:

• On the internet: click here, on your district number, on "Online appointment booking for an RSA application" and look for a date that suits you.
• By phone or directly on site: the contact details of Parisian spaces for integration are available here.

You can write to the CAF to report and correct your mistake:

• Go to "Contact my Caf" from your account
• Click on "Send an email" and write your request, then click on "Send".

The CAF will respond directly to you in your "My Account" area, under "My procedures" or on the "Caf - My Account" mobile application.

• If you applied online, you already have your login details.
• If you applied at a CAF office, you can log in to your personal account using your social security number. If you don't have one, enter the temporary identifier provided by the CAF.

Every 3 months, You must declare your resources to the CAF .
This process is called the "quarterly declaration of resources". For example, for a declaration made in May, the CAF needs to know the resources for February, March and April.

Everything is explained on the Refugees.info page: " Making the quarterly declaration to the CAF "

This contract outlines the rights and obligations of RSA beneficiaries and public structures.

Public institutions (France Travail, the city or department, the CAF) must provide personalized support from a professional to help you:

• build your professional project
• find a job or start your own business
• find a childcare solution
• resolve any difficulties and answer your questions individually.

Benefit recipients are entitled to receive financial assistance every month.

In return, you must:

• be looking for a job or training (creating a CV, sending applications, etc.)
• update your information on the France Travail website
• come to the appointments
• declare your resources every 3 months.

Don't forget to report any changes in your situation to the CAF .

For example :

• Departure abroad
• Change in family circumstances (birth, your child leaving home, marriage or civil partnership, divorce…)
• Change in professional circumstances (unemployment, new job for you or your spouse, start of your business activity…)
• Moving

To do this, go to "Declare a change" from your personal space on the Caf website or in the "Caf - My Account" mobile application on the internet.

Every change in your circumstances results in a recalculation of your financial assistance: if your salary or rent decreases or increases, the CAF (French family allowance fund) will send you more or less money. Don't forget to send your new bank details (RIB) if you change bank accounts.

You can also go to the nearest CAF agency to fill out the change of circumstances declaration form on site.

Recipients of the RSA (Revenu de Solidarité Active, a French social welfare benefit) are also entitled to:

• support from a social worker to find solutions to problems related to housing, childcare, employment or training
• Universal Health Protection (PUMA) and the Solidarity-Based Supplementary Health Insurance (CSS) for the reimbursement of healthcare costs
• discounts or free access to public transport
• the energy voucher to pay the electricity bill
• housing assistance …

If your application for RSA has been refused, you can contact the CAF (by mail, phone, or email) to ask for an explanation.

If you are not satisfied with the response, send a letter to the president of the Departmental Council of your department.

You have 2 months after the refusal to request a review of your application.

In this letter, you must explain:

• who you are (first name, last name, address, beneficiary number…)
• why do you disagree with the refusal of the RSA?
• why are you requesting a review of your case?

You must include all documents that can help support (justify) your request, such as:

• a copy of your identity document (residence permit , passport, etc.) and those of the people in your household
• the letter refusing RSA
• your payslips
• your turnover declarations
• your tax assessment notice...

Send this letter by registered mail with return receipt requested and wait for the response from the Departmental Council.

If you do not agree with the decision of the Departmental Council, you have the option of seeking help from the Defender of Rights.

If after these actions no solution is found, you can appeal to the Administrative Court.