A new calculation for the supplement of free choice of custody mode

The Childcare Free Choice Supplement (CMG), a financial aid designed to support parents with the costs of childcare (employment of a childcare assistant or home care), is undergoing changes as of September 2025. The system for calculating the aid has been modified to take better account of the personal situations of families, on the model of the calculation applied in nurseries.

This reform of the CMG was foreseen in the Social Security Financing Act for 2023. Two decrees published in Official Journal of 12 June 2025 specify the new provisions.

CMG: What changes?

More personalized calculation

From 1^er September 2025, more specific criteria will be taken into account to calculate the amount of the MMC you can claim if you hire a childminder or an employee for home care:

• monthly family resources (categorical net income);
• the number of dependent children;
• the hourly cost of the chosen guard;
• the number of hours spent on call per month: each hour is taken into account in the calculation and is partly funded.

Note also these 2 novelties:

• the calculation method is now the same regardless of the child's age, there is no longer any distinction between children under 3 years of age and those in the 3-6 age group;
• the minimum charge of 15% of the cost of childcare is deleted.

Single parent family

Starting on 1^er September, if you are raising your child on your own, you can benefit from the CMG until he turned 12 (instead of 6 years earlier), and under the same conditions as for children under 6 years.

Alternate custody of children

If you are separated and your children are in alternate care, from December 2025, each of the 2 parents will now be able to benefit from the CMG. You will have to have in place the sharing of family allowances, if you receive them.

The reform also includes the case of beneficiaries of active solidarity income (SSA) who are considered to be part of a labor market integration process. As such, they may benefit from the additional freedom of choice of the mode of care, in accordance with the law on full employment.

How is the new calculation implemented?

You already benefit from the CMG

You don't have to do anything, the service Pajemploi will apply the new calculation automatically depending on your situation. It should be noted that, for families who use a large number of hours of care, the MMC will increase. For those requiring fewer hours, the GMC will decrease. In order to limit the variations in expenditure remaining to be borne by these families, a transient complement is planned, under certain resource and hours conditions.

You are applying for CMG for the first time

The new calculation will apply depending on your situation. You must make your request on the Caf by logging into your account: “My efforts”, “Applying for a benefit”, “Personal life”, “Free choice of care”.