France proposes residency requirement for non-EU social benefits

The French government plans to introduce a one-year residency requirement for non-EU nationals to access certain social benefits. Included in the 2027 Social Security financing bill, the measure targets third-country nationals without work permits, specifically affecting housing assistance and various family allowances.

Proposed benefits subject to this waiting period include the family support allowance (ASF), the back-to-school allowance (ARS), the early childhood reception benefit (Paje), and family supplements. Currently, regular foreign residents can access many of these benefits without a minimum residency period, though some aids like the RSA already require five years.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce the Social Security deficit to 13 billion euros by 2027. However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from the Socialist Party, which has threatened to censure the government. The bill is scheduled for presentation to ministers on October 1, with examination in the National Assembly expected between October 20 and 27.