all the financial aid to leave without breaking the bank

Due to lack of financial means, some families with children cannot go on vacation, whether to the sea, the mountains or even not far from home for a weekend. However, there is financial aid, paid largely by the Family Allowance Fund (Caf) or the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), which allows families or simply children to travel and take a break from their daily lives. Overview of the assistance offered to families:

Vacaf aid for going on vacation

THE Vacaf aidoffered by Caf and the MSA, allow families or children to go to holiday centers, countryside, or camps for example for a maximum of 14 nights. To do this, depending on your family quotient, the Caf and the MSA partially cover, up to 70 %, costs related to the stay. The rest is to be paid by the families. The chosen rental must also be part of Vacaf-certified holiday centers in France or abroad. There are two aids in the Vacaf system: family holiday aid (AVF) and children’s holiday aid (AVE).

AVF assistance for families

As its name suggests, thefamily vacation assistance (AVF) concerns family stays, whether camping or in a holiday village. In short, it allows you to reduce the amount of rental costs. “The award criteria depend on Caf’s internal regulations for social action” on which you depend. In general, to benefit from it, you must be a recipient, receive at least one family benefit, have 1 or more dependent children as well as a family quotient less than or equal to 700 euros (or up to 800 euros for beneficiaries of the education allowance for disabled children). Note also that some Cafs pay families, in addition to the AVF, a transport assistance. “It is calculated according to the distance between your home and the vacation spot, as well as the period when you leave,” can we read on the organization’s website.

AVE assistance for children

The second device, theholiday assistance for children (AVE) is only aimed at children and adolescents who want to go to summer camps, mini-camps or other group stays. The eligibility conditions, formerly identical to the AVF, were revalued in 2026. The Caf is in fact increasing its support for young people aged 6 to 17 by raising the maximum family quotient at 950 euros. The assistance can also increase up to 70% of the cost of the stay, and can be combined with the Colo Pass. From now on, “almost one family in two receiving benefits” can claim the AVE. Eligible people will be informed via a notification in their “My Account” space, indicating the amount granted. All that remains is to choose a stay on the Vacaf website: “the aid is paid directly to the holiday organization, which avoids families having to advance the costs”.

Colo Pass assistance for 11-year-olds

In addition to the AVE, young people can benefit from the Colo passfinancial assistance set up by the State to encourage children aged 10 or 11 to go to summer camp. Concretely, the Caf covers part of the child’s stay. The flat-rate aid varies between 200 euros and 350 euros, depending on the family quotient.

Holiday voucher assistance of 200 euros for 18-25 year olds

The National Agency for Holiday Vouchers offers aid covering 75 % of the cost of the stay within the limit of 200 euros per year and per personfor young people aged 18 to 25. This sum thus makes it possible to finance holiday accommodation by the sea, in the mountains or in the city, in France or Europefrom a selection of program stays “Departure 6:25 p.m.. “The amount is directly deducted from the price to pay, with a minimum remaining charge of 50 euros”we can read on the help brochure.

To receive it, young people must have a reference tax income of less than 17,280 euros per year for a tax share, and be a scholarship student, or on an apprenticeship or professionalization contract, holder of a future or generation contract, registered in a second chance school, volunteer in civic service or having completed their mission for less than a year or even be monitored by Child Welfare.

Welcoming children in leisure centers

There is also support for leisure centers for children. This allows families to reduce costs by using either universal employment vouchers (pre-financed Cesu), provided by the employer or certain communities, i.e. Caf holiday aid (AVF or AVE). These schemes cover part of the cost of the stay, depending on the household’s income, in order to facilitate access to leisure activities for children.

The holiday voucherwhich is in the form of a check book, allows you to finance going on vacation as well as cultural and leisure activities (sports training, camping, camps, transport, restaurant, amusement park, show, museum, etc.). It is up to the employee to pay a part, to which is added a contribution from the employer or the social and economic committee (CSE). Please note that holiday vouchers are valid for a period of two years, depending on their year of issue.

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