It's a support that helps many families cope with the expenses of the back-to-school. In 2026, The Back-to-School Allowance will be paid to more than three million low-income families, which covers about five million children aged 6 to 18.
This aid, paid by the family allowance funds (CAF) or the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), will be disbursed starting from the August 18, 2026 in mainland France and in most overseas departments.
Subject to income conditions, this allowance is scaled according to the child’s age and your earnings. Thus this year, the back-to-school allowance (ARS) stands at €426.87 for children aged 6 to 10, at €450.41 for ages 11 to 14, and at €466.02 for adolescents 15 to 18.
This back-to-school allowance is 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.
Eligibility for the 2026 back-to-school allowance (ARS) hinges on 2024 income. You can receive the allowance for several consecutive years, as the family situation is reassessed annually.
The income ceilings that must not be exceeded vary according to the number of dependent children: €28,956 for one child, €35,638 for two, and €42,320 for three.
Note that if your household's resources slightly exceed these ceilings, you may be eligible for a differential back-to-school allowance, which is also calculated on the basis of your income. To check your eligibility, contact your Caf or MSA.
If you have never taken this step and your child is under 16, you need to declare your family and housing benefits situation on the CAF website in Mes démarches. If the child is aged between 6 and 15, and the family is already receiving benefits, you don't need to do anything and payment is automatic. However, for children aged 16 to 18, parents must make a sworn statement to the effect that the child is still in school or apprenticeship at the start of the new school year.
No law strictly governs the use of ARS, according to Service-Public.fr. The CAF recommends its use for the "materials, supplies and equipment for school," but there is no audit of purchases made by families. In practice, parents buy school supplies, suitable clothing and footwear for school, specialized equipment, backpacks or use it for school services such as transport or the canteen.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Official website
www.caf.fr
