It helps many families cope with back-to-school expenses. In 2023, the Allocation de rentrée scolaire will be paid to over 3 million families on modest incomes, representing around 5 million children aged 6 to 18.
This allowance, paid by the family allowance funds (CAF) or the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), will be paid on August 16, 2023 in mainland France and most overseas departments. On Reunion Island and Mayotte, however, it will be paid on August 1, as the new school year starts on August 17.
After a slight boost of 4% last year, as part of the " purchasing power " bill, 2023 will see a further 5.6% increase. This means-tested allowance is modulated according to the child's age and your income. This year, the ARS amounts to 398.09 euros for children aged 6 to 10, 420.05 euros for children aged 11 to 14, and 434.61 euros for teenagers aged 15 to 18.
This back-to-school allowance is intended for families with children aged between 6 and 18 who are in school, apprenticeship or specialized care. It also applies to children under 6 already enrolled in first grade, whose school certificates must be sent to the CAF. This aid is paid to low-income families.
Several criteria are taken into account, such as the number of dependent children on July 31, 2022, and income. These must not exceed a maximum of 25,775 euros per year if the family has one dependent child, 31,723 euros for two children, and over 5948 euros for each additional child. If your income is slightly higher, a degressive allowance may be paid.
If you've never done this before, and your child is under 16, you'll need to declare your family and housing benefits situation on the CAF website. If the child is aged between 6 and 15, and the family already has a benefit, there's no need to do anything, and payment is automatic. But for children aged 16 to 18, parents must make a declaration on their honor that the child is still at school or in apprenticeship at the start of the 2023 academic year.
