[DanielD1980]

Hello again all.

My EU partner will be studying in Paris and I've found the website for the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales and wanted to see if anyone's had any experience with getting assistance? It seems as if we might qualify for assistance since he'll be a full-time student and I'll bascially be the only bread winner. Of course we'll have savings, but we don't want to spend it all at once if not necessary. Does anyone know how this service works, other than it being based on income/means? Any help is appreciated!

 

[Bevdeforges]

Too many unknowns in your situation to be certain.

What sort of partner? (Spouse, recognized civil partner, other partner?) What sort of visa will you be in France on? What sort of assistance are you looking for? (Housing? Child benefit? Health care?) You say you'll be the only bread winner - do you have a job? What level of income are you looking at? Will you be paying cotisations into the French system? Do you have any transferable benefits or rights to benefits from the UK system?

All that sort of thing is taken into account.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[DanielD1980]

Too many unknowns in your situation to be certain.

What sort of partner? (Spouse, recognized civil partner, other partner?) What sort of visa will you be in France on? What sort of assistance are you looking for? (Housing? Child benefit? Health care?) You say you'll be the only bread winner - do you have a job? What level of income are you looking at? Will you be paying cotisations into the French system? Do you have any transferable benefits or rights to benefits from the UK system?

Hiya Bev

We're not yet in Paris, but I was researching options. Our situation is this: civil partnered, he will be a student and I will be getting a carte de séjour vie privée based on his EU citizenship. We would be looking for housing benefit only because we dont' have children and we'd be able to benefit from the European Health Insurance Card (I've already gotten mine, his is being processed). I am to be looking to find employment as a chef, so it would be full-time employment and I expect to pay cotisations. I've been paying into the UK's National Insurance as has he - we both work full-time here. We will have a fairly substantial savings when we arrive, but we'd rather not have to live solely on that. I realise it may take some time for me to find a job, so our savings may have to support us for a few months. So if there's help available once I do find something, I'd like to avail of it!

 

[Bevdeforges]

If you're covered for your current employment in the UK, you should probably look into the unemployment benefit in the UK before you leave. (It may be possible to qualify for unemployment based on your having to give up your job to follow your partner.) If that is the case, you can use the UK qualification for benefits to sign onto La Pole d'emploi in France and continue your unemployment benefits for something like three months while looking for a new job.

I know some students here have qualified for the CAF housing benefit, though usually on their own. I suspect that chomage (unemployment) may be a better deal for you - at least for the first three months. The students who have been through here before also indicate that you have to get here and settled before the student in the family can apply for the CAF benefits, and that your partner's school may be able to provide more information.
Cheers,
Bev