What is social housing allowance (ALS)?
The social housing allowance (ALS) is intended to reduce the amount of the rent or the charge royalty for certain people who cannot claim any of the other types of existing housing assistance (APL or ALF).
Who can benefit from the ALS?
Any tenant who cannot benefit from other housing aids and fulfilling the conditions of allocation may claim the social housing allowance. Are particularly concerned:
- Young people, without age condition (an emancipated minor child can thus perceive the ALS, provided that the lease is established in its name);
- the sub-tenants declared to the owner under the age of 30 or accommodated with a family welcoming;
- residents in the home (students or elderly in nursing homes);
- Households without children whose sum of the two ages is greater than 55 years;
- people with disabilities.
What are the conditions for reaching the social housing allowance?
The benefit of the ALS is based on three types of criteria.
Criteria related to the applicant
Can make the request, all people who are not admitted for the benefit of other housing aids, that is to say people who are not eligible for personalized housing assistance (APL) or the family housing allowance (ALF). The person must also be either:
- tenant ;
- Declared sub-tenant of housing rented entirely or partially (the allowance is not due if the accommodation is sublet in part to third parties, unless they are people accommodated over 60 years of age or disabled or whether they are people under the age of 30), on the condition of being under the age of 30 or being accommodated with a family welcoming;
- home resident (EHPAD, Autonomy residence, student residence, etc.).
Note: Foreign nationals outside the EU are required to have a valid residence permit.
Housing criteria
The allocation of ALS is reserved only main residenceslocated in France and meeting certain criteria of decency and minimum comfort (minimum surface of 9m² per person) and minimum occupation conditions (at least 8 months/year).
Resource criteria
The allocation of the social housing allowance also depends on the composition, the resources of the household and the amount of the rent. The amount of the allocated allowance that can vary depending on certain ceilings and according to the place of residence.
Since January 1, 2021, the resources taken into account have been those of Last 12 months and no longer from the previous two years. Automatic updating is implemented every three months by the services of CAF or MSA (depending on the status of the beneficiary who therefore has no approach to do).
CAF ALS simulation
CAF provides a free online simulator to determine whether or not you can benefit from the social housing allowance. Just provide information on:
- his profile,
- His home,
- His accommodation,
- His resources …
In a few minutes, we receive an estimate of your right or not to the ALS and the amount of the allowance.
How to apply for social housing allocation?
ALS request is made online on the CAF website. The future recipient must provide the following documents:
How is the amount of the ALS calculated?
A variable amount depending on the family situation
There is no unique amount for ALS. It is calculated according to scales which take into account the following criteria:
- the composition of the home (single person, couple without or with children, etc.),
- the geographic area of your residence,
- The resources of the household and the value of the heritage when it is more than 30,000 euros,
- the nature of the accommodation (rental, property, residence),
- The amount of rent or loan monthly payment.
It is possible to estimate the amount of the social housing allowance via the CAF simulator.
Revaluation of personalized housing aid in October
Personalized housing aids, including the ALS, are revalued each October 1ᵉʳ according to the evolution of the rent reference index (IRL) of the 2ᵉ quarter of the current year. On October 1, 2024, the APLs increased on average 3.26%.
When is the ALS paid?
From the month following the filing of the request file
Help is paid to leave of the first day of the month following the month during which the file was processed. For the first payment, it takes an average of two months from the date of validation of the request. The allowance is then paid in the long term, the 5th of the following month (allocation of the month of January paid on February 5).
To know : If you occupy social housing, the ALS can be paid directly to your lessor.
ALS 2025 payment calendar
Here is the schedule for payment of the social housing allowance in 2025:
• Monday January 6
• Wednesday February 5
• Wednesday March 5
• Friday April 4
• Monday May 5
• Thursday June 5
• Friday July 4
• Tuesday August 5
• Friday September 5
• Monday October 6
• Wednesday, November 5
• Friday December 5
What differences between ALS, APL, ALF?
The three personal housing aids
APL, ALF and ALS are three types of personal housing aid. They allow beneficiaries to reduce the amount of rent or, in some cases, loan monthly payments to be reimbursed. They are distinguished by their allocation conditions and not by their calculation method. They are not combined with each other.
Since 2016, the difference in origin of funds paid to beneficiaries no longer exists since all housing aid (ALS, ALF or APL) has been funded on the National Housing Aid Fund (FNAL). However, the payment is provided by CAF or by the MSA for people under the agricultural regime.
The APL is paid due to the accommodation
The ALS concerns unheeled housing, while personalized housing allowance (APL) requires that housing has first been subject to an agreement. Whether home ownership – housing funded with assisted or regulated loans – or in the public or private rental sector. The APL is paid due to the accommodation and not the family situation.
ALF is paid according to the family situation
The family housing allowance is aimed at people who:
The ALS is paid to people who do not meet the conditions for the allocation of the ALF or the APL.
