A dedicated platform to access resources and assistance.

Jean-Pierre Farandou explained that each household would be able to find out its income level and the amount of aid it receives through a dedicated platform. However, he did not detail how this reference social income, which is separate from the reference tax income used in other administrative procedures, would be calculated.

Since February 1, 2024, a “net social amount” has already appeared on payslips and benefit statements. This serves as the basis for declarations to the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) for the activity bonus and the RSA (Active Solidarity Income). This amount differs from the “net taxable amount,” used for income tax withholding. The future platform would thus extend the clarification efforts undertaken by the government.

A reform that emphasizes professional activity

The minister also mentioned a stated objective of the project: to strengthen incentives for employment. He reiterated that, all other things being equal, “a household where one member works should receive more than a household relying solely on benefits.” This approach, already mentioned in previous announcements, is generating discussion among the organizations consulted, some of which are calling for a precise assessment of its impact on real-life situations.

Initial analyses from parliamentarians

As early as July, the members of parliament tasked with studying the bill reiterated that this single social allowance would not constitute a complete merger of benefits, but rather a harmonization of calculation rules and an adjustment of the benefit scales. According to the scenarios presented, the reform could lead to a decrease in the poverty rate of between 0.6 and 1.1 percentage points.

However, the parliamentarians stressed the need to ensure that no low-income household would see its standard of living decline once the reform was implemented, regardless of whether they were employed or not. They also called for a thorough evaluation of its concrete effects on the target groups.