In France, the status of a single parent entitles you to specific aid aimed at compensating for the lack of a second income. Paid by CAF (or MSA), theFamily support allowance (ASF) is paid if a single parent is deprived of support from the other parent (in the event of non-recognition, death or unpaid or low alimony). In 2026, it is 200.78 euros per month per child. If the fixed alimony is less than this amount, the CAF pays a supplement via the differential ASF.
For a single parent, the RSA can be increased temporarilyone year or until the last child is 3 years old more precisely, to reach 1,115.80 euros for a single parent with one child, in 2026. In terms of activity bonus, since April 1 of that same year, a reform allows single parents with higher incomes (up to 1.5 times the minimum wage, or around 2,165 euros net) to become eligible or to see their bonus increase by around 50 to 60 euros per month.
Taxes and custody fees
On the tax return, check the box T reduces the tax base by counting the first child as a full share instead of a half share. Knowing that the advantage is capped at 4,262 euros of tax savings. For childcare costs, the Supplement for free choice of Childcare Mode (CMG) can be covered up to 85% for the remuneration of a childminder. And since September 1, 2025, it is possible to benefit from this assistance until the child is 12 years old, under the same conditions as for children aged 0 to 6 years.
Without forgetting occasional assistance and support such asvacation assistance (VACAF), coverage of part of the costs of the stay or summer camp according to the family quotient, the local social assistance via the CCAS of the municipalities which often offer reduced prices for the school canteen, leisure centers or public transport. L’ARIPA of the CAF takes care of recovering unpaid alimony. Note that single-parent families have priority in the scales of theBack to School Allowance (ARS), paid in August for children aged 6 to 18.
Pressure and worry for single-parent families
But these social aids are not enough to catch upeconomic gap of single-parent families compared to nuclear families, as revealed by a recent Cofidis survey (on a sample of 515 single-parent families surveyed online in April 2026): 62% of single-parent families fear run out of money at the end of the month to cover their children’s essential expenses. Moreover, 41% consider their purchasing power to be low, compared to 26% of the French people surveyed (figures coming from two previous studies by Cofidis, the purchasing power barometer and the parents’ budget).
In this context, each end of the month becomes a balancing act. Thus, 73% of the families surveyed are particularly pay attention to the price of the products that they buy and 70% reduce their non-essential expensesreflexes more widespread than in the general population (54% and 60% respectively). “ These single-parent families choose restriction – the expense is not made – or adaptation by choosing, for example, to no longer buy new things, for example. », comments Mathieu Escarpit, marketing director of Cofidis France.
Use of overdraft and credit
No offense to some, salary is the main source of income (84%), with social assistance only affecting a minority of households (9%). If the use of bank overdrafts is a consequence of their economic fragility, 23% of them are overdrafted at least once a month, compared to 13% of French people surveyed. “ Single-parent families use the fact of dip into the budget current expenses, an alternative to borrowing and a sign of prudent managementanalyzes the marketing director. There is also credit and payment facilitiesfree of charge and short term “.
