France distributes back-to-school allowance to 3 million families

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, approximately 3 million low-income families in France, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique began receiving the back-to-school allowance (ARS). The payment, managed by the Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF), ranges from 426.87 euros for children aged 6–10 to 466.02 euros for adolescents aged 15–18.

While the disbursement is automatic for children aged 6 to 15, parents of students aged 16 to 18 must manually confirm their child's continued schooling or apprenticeship via the CAF website or mobile app to avoid payment delays. Additionally, a certificate of schooling is required for children entering first grade (CP) before the age of six.

Eligibility is based on 2024 income levels, with thresholds increasing based on the number of children in the household. Despite the aid, some analysts note a gap between the assistance provided and actual costs; the maximum benefit covers only about 32% to 35% of the estimated annual schooling expenses per child, which averages 1,315 euros.