Panneau de gestion des cookies

Important information

Target audience

AudienceFrench citizens, Statutory refugees, Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, Beneficiaries of temporary protection, Stateless people

Price

Free of charge

Requirements

Be in possession of a residence permit or a receipt
Have a bank account

Where is it?

Request the RSA

Updated on місяць тому

What is it?

The RSA (Active Solidarity Income) is financial assistance for people who are unemployed, without unemployment benefits or with low resources.

To receive this financial assistance sent by the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales), you must be over 25 years old and have an address in France.

It is possible to receive the RSA just after confirmation of the status of beneficiary of international protection (refugee, subsidiary protection, stateless person).

Request the RSA as soon as possible, as soon as you have the official letter from OFPRA (refugee or stateless person status, beneficiary of subsidiary protection). CAF does not need your residence permit.

The amount differs from one person to another and depends on personal situation (single, in a relationship, etc.), the number of children, other financial assistance received, and resources (salaries, allowances, etc.).

The money sent by CAF is called “benefit” or “aid” or even “allowance”. A person who receives aid from the CAF is called a “beneficiary”.

How to do it?

To receive the RSA, you must live in France and have an address (even a domiciliation).

> To read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Have a postal address”

The RSA is for people who are over 25 years old.

But there are 2 exceptions:

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

Before making a request, to check if you are entitled to receive the RSA, you must first do a simulation on the CAF website (click here). Answer the different questions.

- Your family composition is your situation in France: if you are married but your spouse does not live with you, you must check “alone”.
- You must answer YES to the question “You have resided in France for more than 5 years, with a residence permit authorizing you to work”.
- Be prepared to complete the “Resources” section with all the money received over the last 3 months, you and the people who live with you.
  • If the simulator indicates that you are entitled to assistance, it indicates an approximate amount. To be sure of receiving this assistance, you must register with the CAF and officially make a “benefit request” (step 3).
  • If the simulator indicates that you are not entitled to assistance, an explanation is given.
  • If you made a mistake when answering the questions, you can start again.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Register and connect to CAF”

The RSA is sent by transfer to a bank account or to a savings account (livret A, LDD, etc.). You must therefore have one to give your RIB. If you don't have one, you can go to a Postal Bank counter for example. A receipt or a certificate of application for a residence card is sufficient to open a savings account.

Also read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Open a bank account”

You will also need to prove your identity and your “ marital status ”.

If you have not yet received your birth certificate from OFPRA, the easiest way is to contact OFII to obtain a “provisional family certificate”. You can also ask them for a certificate of the last transfers of the asylum seeker allowance (ADA), to prove that you no longer receive this financial assistance (but this document is not required to request the RSA).

To obtain these certificates, you can write an email to the OFII in charge of your file or go directly to the OFII counter where you are responsible.

Complete list of all the documents necessary for your RSA application:

  • Provisional family certificate from OFII or birth certificate from OFPRA
  • RIB of your current account or your savings account
  • Photocopy of the residence card or certificate of submission of application for a residence permit
  • Photocopy of the letter with the OFPRA decision granting you international protection or letter of the CNDA decision (you can hide your personal history in the document sent to the CAF)
  • Optional: certificate of end of payment of the ADA from the OFII

You are ready to apply for RSA! You must now choose whether you make the request online (step 3), by making an appointment on site (step 4) or by sending it by mail (step 5).

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Scan a document” to have your documents in digital version, if you choose to make the request online.

Log in to your benefit area or create an account on the CAF website, by clicking on “My account” at the top right.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Register and connect to CAF”

You can also log in with your FranceConnect account.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Connect to a site with France Connect”

If you have not yet received your permanent Social Security number (which begins with "1" for men, "2" for women), you can log in with your temporary number (which begins with "7" or " 8").

Click on “Help and procedures”, “Apply for benefits online”, “Professional life”, then “Active solidarity income” and “Make the request”.

Answer the questions, the same as for the simulation (step 1).

Do not hesitate to ask a social worker for help, to be sure you complete everything correctly. You can ask your accommodation center, an association or your town hall about the service that can help you apply for RSA on the internet.

Please note: the RSA will be sent to you from the date you submitted the file (even incomplete). If it takes a long time to contact a social worker, do not wait and go directly to a CAF agency (step 4).

If you made your RSA request online or by sending it by mail, go directly to step 6.

If you want to make an appointment to apply for RSA with a professional in a CAF agency, the first thing to do is to go to the site (click here) and write your postal code at the top right in “ My CAF”.

You can then make an appointment:

  • on the internet: click on “Contact us” at the bottom of the page > “Request an appointment”, then follow the steps to make an appointment.
  • by telephone: call 32 30 (price of a normal call).
  • Directly on site, at the CAF agency near you , which you can find by clicking on “Find a reception point”.

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 making an appointment:

  • on the internet: click here , then on the number of your district, then on “Make an appointment online for an RSA application” and find a date that suits you.
  • by telephone or directly on site: contact details for the 7 Parisian integration spaces are available by clicking here.
Remember to bring all paper documents to the appointment.

If you applied for your RSA online or on site, go directly to step 6.

If you do not want to apply online and cannot go to a CAF agency, you can always send your RSA application by post.

To do this, you must first complete this document:

Request for RSA or activity bonus (Form 15481*01)

Please note, if you are self-employed (trader, craftsman, liberal profession, etc.), you must complete form 15482 instead (click here).

If you or your spouse are under 25 years old, you must also complete and send this document: Supplementary application for a young person under 25 years old (Form 14130*02)

The list of additional documents to be provided can be found on the last page of the forms.

Once your file is completed, you can send it to your CAF. To find the postal address: write your postal code at the top right on the site in "Ma Caf" , then click on "Contact us" at the bottom of the page. The postal address of your CAF will be displayed.

You will receive from the CAF a beneficiary number (6 digits and a letter) and a password to allow you to connect to your online space.

As soon as your file is submitted (and if it is complete), the first RSA transfer normally arrives the following month.

The first RSA payment may take into account the amount of ADA you received and may not be the maximum amount. The amount will be assessed every 3 months, taking into account your resources.

If you have no response 1 month after the request, contact CAF by telephone or email.

What happens next?

Every 3 months, you must declare your resources to the CAF.

This is the “quarterly declaration of resources”. You must complete a table, for each month requested, with the money received (salary, unemployment benefits, etc.).

This allows CAF to calculate the aid that will be sent for the following 3 months.

> To read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Make the quarterly declaration to the CAF”

Do not forget to inform the CAF of any change in professional or family situation in your personal space, “declare a change of situation” section.

The reciprocal engagement contract (CER) or “personalized project” is a document that you may sign when applying for RSA.

The reciprocal engagement contract is not obligatory, it depends on the region. But if you signed it, you are obliged to respect it.

This contract presents the rights and obligations of RSA beneficiaries but also of public structures.

Public structures (Pôle emploi, the city of Paris, CAF) are obliged to provide personalized support from a professional social worker, to help you:

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

Recipients have the right to receive financial assistance every month. In exchange, you must:

  • look for work or training (make a CV, send applications, etc.)
  • update yourself on the Pôle emploi website,
  • come to appointments,
  • declare your resources every 3 months.

RSA recipients are entitled to:

  • support from a social worker to help you find a job suited to your situation,
  • Complementary Health Solidarity (CSS) for the reimbursement of health costs,
  • reductions or free public transport,
  • sports or cultural activities...
Top of the page

21 contributors mobilized

a mugniera mugnierAdmin
hugo stéphanhugo stéphanAdmin
houssam kokachhoussam kokachAdmin
olga b.olga b.Translator
ulugbekulugbekTranslator
alinalalinalTranslator
frédérique pharabozfrédérique pharabozTranslator
nalothmannalothmanTranslator
aman expertaman expertTranslator
nour alhindinour alhindiTranslator
yassin nabelsiyassin nabelsiTranslator
noornoorTranslator
caroline wittmanncaroline wittmannTranslator
rohullah expertrohullah expertTranslator
niknameniknameTranslator
marianneukrainemarianneukraineTranslator
anastasiaanastasiaTranslator
areknazareknazTranslator
kim.delaunaykim.delaunayTranslator
relorefrelorefWriter
Translator