From the third birthday, the young child welcome benefit (Paje) gradually ceases. The basic allowance stops, the free choice of childcare supplement changes, and families transition to another set of rights. Identifying each CAF aid after 3 years for a child requires reasoning by the number of dependent children, income brackets, and school obligations.
Family allowance increase postponed to 18 years: what changes in 2026
The historical rule granted an increase in the amount of family allowances from the child’s fourteenth birthday. For children whose 14th birthday occurs from March 1, 2026, the increase is postponed to 18 years. The right is not eliminated, but delayed by four years.
In practice, this means that a family with two or more children will receive the base rate (not increased) for a significantly longer period. The budgetary impact focuses on households with children aged between 14 and 17 during the transition period.
To anticipate the actual amount paid, consulting the dedicated page for each CAF aid after 3 years for a child allows verification of the applicable scales based on each child’s exact date of birth.
Family supplement after 3 years: conditions and income ceilings
The family supplement (CF) is the key benefit for large families once the Paje ends. It is aimed at households with at least three dependent children over 3 years old and under 21 years old. Its payment is monthly, subject to income conditions.
Two rates coexist: a normal rate and an increased rate. The increased rate applies to families whose income is below a second, lower ceiling. The CAF automatically calculates the applicable rate based on the tax declaration from two years prior.
Interaction with the Paje basic allowance
The family supplement cannot be combined with the Paje basic allowance. If a child under 3 years old is still present in the household, the Paje takes precedence. The transition to the CF occurs the month following the third birthday of the youngest child.
For blended families, the concept of dependent child recognized by the CAF can include the partner’s children if they live in the household effectively and permanently. This point often generates errors in situation declarations.
Back-to-school allowance: age, amount, and schooling obligation
The back-to-school allowance (ARS) concerns children aged 6 to 18 years. It is paid subject to income conditions, once a year, usually in August. The amount varies according to three age brackets (6-10 years, 11-14 years, 15-18 years), each bracket corresponding to a distinct scale.
Between 3 and 6 years, no ARS is due. The child must have reached the age of 6 before January 1 following the school year to qualify.
Proof of schooling from 16 years
Up to and including 15 years, the CAF considers the schooling obligation fulfilled without any particular action. From 16 years, proof of schooling or apprenticeship is required to maintain the payment. A child who earns a net salary exceeding 55% of the minimum wage loses the status of dependent child, which simultaneously eliminates the ARS and all related family benefits.
- From 3 to 5 years: no right to ARS, but the child remains dependent without any particular condition beyond the schooling obligation (mandatory from 3 years).
- From 6 to 15 years: ARS paid automatically if the income is below the ceiling and if the child is enrolled in a school.
- From 16 to 18 years: ARS maintained subject to the submission of a schooling certificate or apprenticeship contract, and a net income below the threshold of 55% of the minimum wage.
Temporary flat-rate allowance: the safety net at 20 years
The temporary flat-rate allowance partially compensates for the loss of family allowances when a child turns 20 in a family of at least three children. It is paid automatically if the child still lives at home and does not exceed the applicable income ceiling.
This benefit lasts a maximum of one year (from the month of the 20th birthday to the month preceding the 21st birthday). Its amount corresponds to a fraction of the previous family allowances. It prevents a sudden drop in resources for large families when an older child reaches the age limit.
Maintaining the status of dependent child until 21 years
For housing allowances and the family supplement, the age limit is set at 21 years, not 20. This distinction is often overlooked. A 20-year-old child living at home, not working, or earning below the threshold can still be counted as a dependent for housing aid calculations, even if the family allowances themselves have ceased.
- Family allowances: paid until the month preceding the child’s 20th birthday.
- Family supplement: maintained as long as three children aged 3 to 20 years are dependent.
- Housing aid: the child remains counted until their 21st birthday, which modifies the calculation of the amount paid to the household.
- Temporary flat-rate allowance: paid from 20 to 21 years, only if the family had at least three dependent children before the twentieth birthday.
The transition between early childhood benefits and post-3 years benefits is not a simple change of budget line. Each aid responds to distinct conditions of age, income, and family composition. Checking the “My rights” section on the CAF website every quarter remains the most reliable way to avoid overpayments or unclaimed rights.