The Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) is an organization in France distributing social benefits. As a student, you may be eligible for some housing benefits.

According to the price of your rent and your personal revenues, you might, if you are deemed eligible, receive between 30 and 90 euros per month.

If you arrive in September in your accommodation, you must know that no matter when you register with the CAF, the first month will not be paid to you. That is, from September to December, there will only be at most 3 months of housing benefits. You also need to provide your bank account information. You will quickly learn that bureaucracy is quite difficult in France, this is why I would advise you to have a French bank account.

Until December 2018, the CAF retroactively paid the allocations due applicants from the time of moving into their accommodation. Now, it only pays from the time an application is filed. This means you would have to apply as soon as you move into your residence and have all the necessary documents ready at your disposal.

To apply, you will first have to register and create a personal account on the CAF website. You will need to provide:

• Bank account details
• Income from previous two years (If any)
• A copy of your birth certificate
• A copy of your passport
• Proof of accommodation (In attestation of residence)
• In some cases, residence permit from the OFII

The amount you are entitled to depends on a number of factors. There is an option on the CAF website to calculate the amount you would be receiving once you declare your situation. Please remember; the CAF only pays from the second month of stay in the accommodation. For example, if you move into your room in September, the CAF will pay your allocation from October. That is dependent on how soon you put in your application.

You can find here a step-by-step explained procedure in English of the CAF registration process: Guide to apply to APL

Connect to caf.fr and start the procedure.