Thousands of retired couples could receive several hundred euros more each month, but miss out due to lack of information. However, how this aid works is simpler than you might think.
In retirement, many couples live on a tight income. Between fixed costs and daily expenses, the budget is often fair. Some people think they earn too little to live comfortably, but too much to qualify for assistance. Others don’t even know this type of supplement exists. Result: they do without it, even though they could increase their income without changing their situation.
To be entitled to it, you must meet some fairly basic conditions: be at least 65 years old, or 62 years old in the event of unfitness for work, live in France at least nine months per year and the couple’s resources must not exceed 1,620.18 euros per month. It doesn’t matter whether you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting: the income of the two people is added together. Pensions are taken into account, but also certain income from assets. On the other hand, housing assistance such as the APL is not included in the calculation. The request is made to your pension fund. You must provide classic documents such as the tax notice or pension statements. The response time is around three to four months. In the event of refusal, it is possible to contest, but few people do so, often because they are not aware of this possibility.
So, what help is this in concrete terms? We are talking here about the solidarity allowance for the elderly, or ASPA, also called the old age minimum. The principle is very simple. The State sets a minimum income for a couple. If you are below, it pays you the difference to reach this amount. In 2026, this threshold is 1,620.18 euros per month. Concretely, if a couple receives 1,000 euros, they can receive a little more than 600 euros more. With 500 euros, the supplement exceeds 1,100 euros. And even with 1,500 euros, a little boost is still possible.
For a single person, the calculation works in the same way: for example, with 800 euros of monthly income, the Aspa can reach 243.59 euros per month to supplement up to the ceiling, this time of 1,043.59 euros per month. Everything is calculated automatically based on your resources.
Another point to know: this aid can be recovered after death, but only in certain cases. If the assets transferred are less than a little more than 108,000 euros, nothing is asked of the heirs. Above that, recovery is capped. And if the surviving spouse remains in the home, protections exist.
Moreover, this aid can also open the door to other local help. Some municipalities offer assistance for elderly people with low income: help with bills, meal delivery or teleassistance. They are often cumulative and, in general, not recovered from the estate. In other words, being familiar with this assistance is not only about earning a few hundred euros more, it is also about accessing other sources of income that can really make everyday life easier.
