Disability: work in institutions and work support services (Ésat)
Verified 01 June 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
What is an establishment and service of accompaniment through work (Ésat)? The State is a structure that allows people with disabilities to exercise a professional activity while benefiting from medico-social and educational support in a protected environment. This structure welcomes people who have not acquired enough autonomy to work in ordinary medium or in adapted company to their needs. We tell you what you need to know.
A State is a medico-social organization that allows a person with a disability to work in an adapted framework, when his capacity does not allow him to exercise a professional activity in an ordinary environment or in an adapted company.
Ésat provides comprehensive support by offering professional activities, educational, social and medical support to promote personal development.
Such support may include actions aimed at:
- Maintain your knowledge
- Preserving your academic achievements
- Develop skills through vocational training.
Please note
The person welcomed in the State does not sign an employment contract, because he does not have the status of employee. She signs one work-based support contract.
You must have at least 20 years to be able to be welcomed in the State. However, the Commission on the Rights for the Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH), within the departmental house of persons with disabilities (MDPH), can decide on an orientation in the State from the age of 16.
You must also complete one of the following 2 conditions :
- Have a working capacity that does not exceed one-third of that of a valid person and have a sufficient potential ability to work
- Have a work capacity greater than or equal to one-third of that of a valid person and need one or more medical, educational, social or psychological supports.
Please note
The CDAPH determines your disability rate. You are informed of your rate by the MDPH, which sends you the notification of the decision taken by the CDAPH.
The request can be made online through an online service, if the MDPH of your residence offers it:
MDPH (AAH, PCH, admission to Ésat, accommodation...) and renewal)
You can also apply by post through a form:
Application or renewal of disability benefits (AEEH, AAH, PCH, CMI, accommodation, Ésat...))
You must reach supporting documents mentioned during your online application or on the form.
The documents must be sent (or scanned if you apply online) to the MDPH of your place of residence.
If you meet the conditions, the CDAPH may decide to refer you to a State. This means that it grants you the right to go to work in the State.
The decision of the CDAPH may include a trial period of 3 months in Esat. This trial period is renewable 1 time for a maximum of 3 months if the Director of the State so proposes.
FYI
The decision of the CDAPH to direct you to the State is valid recognition of the status of disabled worker (RQTH).
The decision of the CDAPH is communicated to you by mail. This letter contains a list of States with their telephone numbers and addresses.
You must then contact the establishments of your choice, by mail, telephone or by traveling to find out if they can register you. Your application must be accompanied by a copy of the CDAPH's decision.
The MDPH may also decide to contact States in parallel with your personal efforts.
Yes, the trial period in the State may be interrupted before the end of the 3 months if you or the Director of the State so request.
To do this, you or the Director of the State must write a letter specifying the reasons for this interruption.
The mail must be forwarded to the MDPH: titleContent.
The CDAPH then decides on the basis of the information it has collected (feedback from the State, medical opinions, your testimony, ...) to keep you or not in the State.
The CDAPH can also pronounce a new orientation towards another type of structure (for example, adapted company, company of ordinary medium) when retention in the State ceases and admission to another State is no longer suitable.
The labor support contract defines your rights and obligations and those of the State.
It specifies your professional activity and the implementation of medico-social or educational support to promote your autonomy and your personal and social development.
It is signed for 1 year.
The contract shall be renewed annually by tacit renewal.
Your contract must comply with a regulated contract template.
In the State, you do not receive a salary as an employee, but a guaranteed remuneration.
If you work full-time, this remuneration is between €6.86 and €13.63 of the hour.
If you are part-time, the amount is adjusted according to your working hours.
Guaranteed remuneration is paid as soon as you enter the probationary period (if there is one), provided that the contract of accompaniment by work is already concluded.
Please note
Guaranteed compensation can be combined with a portion of your allowance for adults with disabilities (AAH) (or child-rearing allowance for disabled children - AEEH, if you are under 20). Moreover, in case of illness, your guaranteed remuneration is maintained from 1er day of stoppage, without waiting period.
Rights related to work and training
You have the following rights:
- Join a trade union
- Express your personal and collective opinion on your work and its conditions of practice and propose improvements
- Make strike
- Implement your right to alert and withdraw in the event of a work situation presenting a serious and imminent danger.
In addition, you benefit from a Personal Training Account (PTA) and have access to Validation of prior learning (VAE).
You will also receive a sketchbook.
This notebook allows you to evaluate your skills, training and experiences, but also to express your wishes for the coming year.
Each year, an individual interview is organized with the Ésat to take stock of your career, your training needs and define the objectives and necessary support.
Finally, as for employees, you can benefit from the State's coverage of transport costs, and, under conditions, restaurant vouchers and holiday vouchers.
Leave and Health Rights
After 1 month of being in the State, you are entitled to annual leave of 2.5 working days per month.
You can accumulate up to 30 working days of leave per year.
The Director of the State may decide to grant you 3 additional (non-fixed) mobile days.
Like employees, you benefit from subsequent holidays :
- Maternity leave
- Paternity and childcare leave
- Parental Education Leave full-time or part-time
- Supplementary Birth Leave
- Leave for sick children
- Parental Attendance Leave
- Family solidarity leave
- Caregiver Leave.
In addition, in case of pregnancy, you have an absence permit to go to the mandatory medical examinations.
Finally, the State is obliged to offer you a complementary health.
Yes, you can work part-time in the State and also part-time in an ordinary company, an adapted company or as a self-employed person. However, the cumulation of your activities must not not more than 35 hours per week.
Yes, the State may offer, with your consent, to pursue a professional activity outside the establishment to enable you to develop your skills and promote your professional development.
This can be made available to:
- of a company,
- of a local authority,
- a public institution,
- an association,
- or any other legal person or physical.
Warning
The proposed activity must not have for-profit.
A written contract must be signed between the State and the structure that welcomes you. This contract must contain the following information:
- Your name
- The nature of the activity entrusted, the place and the working hours
- Billing methods between the State and the structure
- The conditions under which the State continues to support you
- The measures planned to facilitate your adaptation in the new structure.
Throughout this activity, you remain attached to the State and continue to benefit from its medical, social and professional support.
The provision may last up to 2 years. It may be extended if the CDAPH gives its consent, at the request of the Director of the State.
Yes, you may decide to leave your State to join a company in the regular workplace.
If you sign an employment contract with the company (permanent contract, fixed-term contract, temporary contract, integration contract such as CUI-CAE or CUI-CIE, apprenticeship or professionalization contract), you can benefit, with your agreement, from a support agreement.
This agreement is signed between your State, your employer, and sometimes a social support service. It describes how you and your employer will be supported throughout the duration of your contract, This support can last between 1 year and 3 years.
Your transition to an ordinary workplace company is part of a enhanced career path in employment. This course is prepared by Ésat in conjunction with your employer. It is formalized in a document that describes the actions provided for in the Convention.
This document is given to you no later than 1 month after signing your contract.
If your employment contract is terminated, or if you are not hired at the end of your employment contract, you are automatically reinstated in your State.
If this is not possible, you join another State with which an agreement has been made. The Convention specifies the conditions for such reintegration.
No, your dismissal is impossible.
However, the Director of the State may take a precautionary measure which suspends your stay in the institution. This decision can be made if your behavior seriously endangers your health or safety, or that of others, or seriously damages the property of the institution.
The precautionary measure is valid for a maximum duration of one month.
The MDPH is immediately referred by the Director of the State.
The CDAPH then decides whether or not you remain in the State.
If the CDAPH has not rendered its decision at the end of the precautionary measure, the measure is automatically extended until the decision is made.
FYI
Guaranteed remuneration shall be maintained throughout the period of suspension.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Conditions to be fulfilled
Direction of the CDAPH
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Ministry of Disability
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