What is the complement to free choice of childcare?
Help integrated into the PAJE and paid by CAF
The complement to free choice of childcare (CMG) is an integrated financial assistance in the reception of young children (PAJE) intended for Compensate for a child’s child care under the age of six. In France, it is paid by CAF to 700,000 families.
Aid to finance part of the cost of childcare costs
The CMG is a financial coverage of the cost of remuneration paid to a childminder, a home care, an association, an authorized company or a micro-crèche for the custody of one or more children under the age of six. At the child’s six years, the payment of the CMG ceases automatically.
Who has the right to complement free choice of childcare mode (CMG)?
To benefit from the additional free choice of childcare, it is necessary to fulfill the following conditions.
Maternal assistant
CMG beneficiaries must Call on an association (micro-crèche or family crèche whose hourly rate does not exceed 10 euros) or a company authorized by the department services and employing approved childminders or directly employing a childminder. In the latter case, the salary of the approved maternal assistant must not exceed 59.40 euros per day and per child kept.
Have a child under 6 years old
The child must have under six and be kept at least 16 hours per month. From September 2025, the CMG reform widens the time of payment to isolated parents, raising only one or more children, who directly employ a childminder or a home care. They can touch the complement to 12 years of the child.
This CMG reform only concerns parents who directly employ a childminder or a home care are concerned. As of September, the two parents will be able to receive the complement of free choice of childcare mode in the event of alternate guard.
Work, be a job seeker or touch certain allowances
Last condition, the parent (s) must have worked at least an hour During the month of CMG’s request. Compensated unemployment parents, when they follow paid vocational training or when they receive daily sickness, maternity, adoption, paternity, work accident, are also eligible.
Students, people under civic contract are also concerned, benefiting from the RSA of the allowance for disabled adults or the specific solidarity allowance.
What is the scale of the resource ceilings of the supplement of free choice of the daycare in 2025?
In 2025, the CMG ceilings were calculated according to the resources of 2023. They are in force until December. The CMG corresponds to 85 % of the remuneration paid within the following limits.
Note : The ceilings are increased by 40% for a single parent.
How is the amount of the complement of free choice of child care?
The amount varies according to the childcare mode and the household resources
The amount of the supplement of free choice of the daycare depends on parents’ resourcesbut also of the chosen childcare mode. In the event of hiring a childminder, a home care or the use of a family crèche, a micro-crèche or a structure using a person at home, the amount paid will not be the same.
Evolution of the calculation method from September 2025
From September 2025, the CMG calculation method evolves on the model of that applied in a crèche, in order to better adapt to the personal situations of families. More precise, he will take into account the following criteria for hiring an assistant at home or an employee for home care:
- the monthly family resources (categorical net income);
- the number of dependent children;
- the hourly cost of the chosen guard;
- The number of hours of childcare worked per month: each hour is taken into account in the calculation and is partly funded.
This new calculation method will not no more distinction between children under 3 years old and those of the 3-6 year tranche. In addition, parents will no longer have to pay the minimum dependent up to 15% of the cost of the guard.
From September, it will automatically apply according to the parent’s situation. For families who count a large number of hours of guard, CMG will increase. For those needing less hours, it will decrease.
Simulation to estimate the new amounts
The government provides families with an online simulator to estimate the new additional amount. Just indicate the composition of the family and the amount of annual income from the home for the past two years.
Note : A transitional supplement may be paid if the modification of the CMG calculation results in a reduction in the amount for the same reception expenditure for a home (already beneficiary before the reform) having modest resources and important reception needs.
What is the amount of the CMG in 2025?
In the event of direct hiring of a childminder or a home care
As part of the direct employment of a childminder, the supplement supports 85% of remuneration. Here is the amount of CMG, from April 1 to August 31, 2025, depending on the age of the child and the income tranche:
From September 2025, these ceilings will be deleted and the calculation method will become identical for all children. There will no longer be any distinction between those under less or more than three years.
Level of social contributions supported by CAF
CAF takes care of social contributions:
- 100 % for the employment of an approved maternal assistant,
- 50 % for the employment of a home care within the monthly limit of 520 euros for children under 3 and 261 euros For children aged 3 to 6.
This taking will remain unchanged after the reform.
Parents minimum amount
A minimum of 15 % of the expense will remain the responsibility of the parent until August 2025. With the CMG reform, the minimum dependent will be deleted in September.
What is the amount of the CMG for a child kept in a crèche or in micro-crèche?
In the event of using a family crèche or a structure using a childminder
Here is the amount of the additional choice of childcare, from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, depending on the age of the child and the income tranche:
In the event of using a micro-crèche or a structure using a person at home
Here is the amount of the CMG, from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026:
A minimum of 15 % of the expense will remain the responsibility of the parent.
What increase and reduction in the amount of CMG?
Increase in the complement of free choice of childcare
The CMG is increased by:
- 10 % additional if the child is kept 25 hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. morning, Sunday or holidays
- An additional 30 % if the parent and/or his spouse is beneficiary of the AAH (Allocation to disabled adults)
- 30 % additional if the parent benefits from the AEEH (education allowance for the disabled child)
- 30 % additional if the parent lives with one or more children
Reduction of the complement of free choice of childcare
The amounts of the CMG are divided by two, if the parent benefits from the preparation (shared child education service) paid for a part -time or less part -time.
How to apply for CMG at CAF?
The parent must make his CMG request Upon hiring of the employee or from the first month of recourse to a childcare structure. If he is already a beneficiary, he can do it from his personal space on Caf.fr. If he is not, he must create an online account, then make his request.
Until what age can we benefit from the CMG?
CAF monthly payment until the day before the child’s six years
The CMG is paid each month by CAF and MSA, as long as the child is entrusted to a childminder, a home care or in a crèche. And this, until the month preceding its sixth anniversary. To receive the CMG, it is necessary to declare the employee employed on the Pajemploi.ursaff.fr site each month.
An extended age limit for single -parent families
As of September 1, single -parent families will be able to benefit from the CMG up to 12 years old of the child (instead of six years ago), and under the same conditions as for children under the age of six.
Note : having recourse to a childminder, a home care, a crèche or a micro-crèche can allow you to benefit from a tax credit.
Is it possible to combine CMG with other family benefits?
The different components of the PAJE are all combined with each other. However, it cannot be open to more than one basic allowance at a time (except in the event of multiple birth). In the event of part -time work, the parent can combine the CMG with the preparation. If the working time is less than or equal to 50% of the usual working time, the amount of the CMG is divided by two. However, it is not possible to combine CMG with the family supplement.
