New Benefits for Caregivers
Employees who must take a break from work to care for a family member will be eligible for caregiver leave. The eligibility requirements for this benefit will be more favorable in 2025, with the possibility of renewal if the caregiver needs to care for another person.
What Is Caregiver Leave?
According to government sources, between 8 and 11 million caregivers are currently providing regular assistance to a loved one with a disability, limited independence, or an illness.
Since 2017, family support leave has been replaced by caregiver leave. This program provides a daily allowance and days off, granted to the caregiver under certain conditions for up to 3 months (unless a more favorable collective bargaining agreement applies). The goal is to allow an employee to temporarily suspend or reduce their work to care for a family member: spouse, cohabiting partner, civil union partner, descendant, ascendant, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt. It may also include a person who lives with the employee or with whom the employee has close and stable ties, and whom the employee regularly assists with activities of daily living.
Current Terms and Conditions
Caregiver leave may be granted to an employee regardless of their status: private-sector employee, civil servant, self-employed individual, or job seeker receiving unemployment benefits.
The employer may not deny this leave and must guarantee the employee’s job, but is not required to pay the employee, unless a collective bargaining agreement provides for more favorable terms. The employee may not receive compensation for any activity other than caring for a family member. However, the employee is eligible for the Ajpa (daily caregiver allowance) at a rate of €64.54 per day or €32.27 per half-day. Current regulations set the maximum duration of benefits at 66 days over the employee’s entire career, regardless of the number of people being cared for, and the employee may take no more than 22 days of Ajpa per month. The employee may split their leave, which may also be converted, with the employer’s consent, into a period of part-time work. As for the person receiving care, they must meet certain conditions: reside in France (at home or in a facility), be an APA recipient, have a disability rating of 80% or higher, be disabled, or receive a work-related accident or occupational disease pension with a supplement.
A decree published on July 6, 2024—which is part of the Social Security Financing Act—will improve the status of family caregivers effective January 1, 2025. Employees will now be eligible for an extension of the Ajpa beyond 66 days if they need to care for another family member. An additional 66 days may therefore be granted, provided that the caregiver is assisting a person other than the one for whom they previously received the allowance.
However, the maximum number of Ajpa days may not exceed 264 days over the course of the caregiver employee’s entire career (i.e., 66 days × 4 relatives), which represents an increase of 198 days compared to current entitlement. To qualify for this program, employees must submit their request to their employer one month before the start of the leave (or 15 days in the case of a renewal), via certified mail with return receipt requested.
