Back-to-school allowance (ARS)
Verified 04 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Do you have at least one school child between the ages of 6 and 18? You can, subject to means test, be entitled to the back-to-school allowance (ARS). This allowance helps you to finance the expenses of the school year. The amount depends on your child's age and education level. We present you the information to know.
What applies to you ?
General scenario
Family Resource Conditions
The family's resources should not exceed a certain ceiling.
For the back to school 2026, the categorical net income of the year 2024 serves as a reference.
The maximum amount of funds that must not be exceeded to benefit from ARS varies according to the number ofdependent children :
1
€28,956
2
€35,638
3 or more children
€42,320 + €6,682 per additional child
The ceiling is the same regardless of the situation of the beneficiary family.
Warning
In case of slight exceeding of the ceiling, a degressive allowance called differential allocation, calculated on the basis of income, may be paid.
Age of child
The child must be between 6 and 18 years old.
Thus, for the 2026 school year, the child must be born between 16 September 2008 and 31 December 2020 (inclusive).
Schooling of the child
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General scenario
The child must be enrolled in school or Cned in the 2026 school year.
FYI
if your child is educated in the family, you are not entitled to ARS.
Child in learning
If your child is in apprenticeship and his remuneration exceeds a certain ceiling, you are not eligible for ARS.
Child enrolled in school and entrusted by the judge to child welfare
If your school child is entrusted by the judge to child welfare (Ase) or a health or educational service or institution, ARS will be kept in an account blocked with the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.
It will be paid to the child, at his request, when he will be of age, to accompany him in his autonomy.
Amounts paid for the 2026 school year vary according to the age of the child on 31 December 2025:
Age of child | Amount of ARS |
|---|---|
6 to 10 years | €426.87 |
11 to 14 years | €450.41 |
15 to 18 years | €466.02 |
Warning
The above amounts are given after the social debt repayment contribution (CRDS) has been calculated.
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You depend on the Caf
The steps are different depending on whether or not you have already received ARS for your child:
You are a Caf beneficiary
The steps vary according to the age of the child:
Child under 16 years old
There is no process to be done.
However, you must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the family allowance fund (Caf).
Young person born between September 16, 2008 and December 31, 2010
You must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the family allowance fund (Caf).
You must also declare that your child will still be in school or learning in the fall of 2026. This declaration must be made from mid-July on your Caf website.
You are not a Caf beneficiary
To be eligible for ARS in the 2026 school year, you must complete a statement of the status of family benefits and housing and a 2024 income statement.
If your child under the age of 6 is enrolled in the CP, you must also send Caf the school certificate sent by your child's institution.
You depend on the MSA (agricultural scheme)
The steps are different depending on whether or not you have already received ARS for your child:
You are an MSA grantee
The steps vary according to the age of the child:
Child under 16 years old
there is no action to be taken.
However, you must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the agricultural social mutual fund (MSA).
Young person born between September 16, 2008 and December 31, 2010
You must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the agricultural social mutual fund (MSA).
You must also declare that your child will still be in school or learning in the fall of 2026. This declaration must be made from mid-July on your MSA website.
You are not an MSA grantee
To be eligible for ARS in the 2026 school year, you must complete a statement of the status of family benefits and housing and a 2024 income statement.
If your child under the age of 6 is enrolled in CP, you must also send the MSA the school certificate sent by your child's institution.
General scenario
For the 2026 school year, the ARS is paid from August 18, 2026.
This payment date applies to school children aged between 6 and 16 and to children aged between 16 and 18 whose parents have declared that they are enrolled in school or are enrolled in apprenticeship.
If you make this declaration after the official date of payment, you will receive the ARS a few days after receipt of the document by your Caf or MSA.
Optionally, allow a processing time by your bank.
Meeting
For the 2026 school year, the ARS is paid from 4 August 2026.
This payment date applies to school children aged between 6 and 16 and to children aged between 16 and 18 whose parents have declared that they are enrolled in school or are enrolled in apprenticeship.
If you make this declaration after the official date of payment, you will receive the ARS a few days after receipt of the document by your Caf or MSA.
Optionally, allow a processing time by your bank.
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General regime (Caf)
You must report your change of situation promptly:
Agricultural diet (MSA)
You must report your change of situation promptly:
You can also submit the form cerfa no. 11423 send it to your MSA or by post.
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General regime (Caf)
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Agricultural diet (MSA)
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Declaration of change of address
Please note
If you change department, the MSA of your home will automatically take care of the transfer of the file to your new caisse. This transfer will take place as soon as you register your new address.
Mayotte
Family Resource Conditions
The family's resources should not exceed a certain ceiling.
For the back to school 2026, the categorical net income of the year 2024 serves as a reference.
The maximum amount of funds that must not be exceeded to benefit from ARS varies according to the number ofdependent children :
1
€35,634
2
€38,874
3 or more children
€42,114 + €3,240 per additional child
The ceiling is the same regardless of the situation of the beneficiary family.
Warning
In case of slight exceeding of the ceiling, a degressive allowance called differential allocation, calculated on the basis of income, may be paid.
Age of child
The child must be between 6 and 20 years old.
Thus, for the 2026 school year, the child must be born between 16 September 2006 and 31 December 2020 (inclusive).
Schooling of the child
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General scenario
The child must be enrolled in school or Cned in the 2026 school year.
FYI
If your child is educated in the family, you are not entitled to ARS.
Child in learning
If your child is in apprenticeship and his remuneration exceeds a certain ceiling, you are not eligible for ARS.
Child enrolled in school and entrusted to child welfare
If your school child is entrusted by the judge to child welfare (Ase) or a health or educational service or institution, ARS will be kept in a blocked account with the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.
It will be paid to your child, at his request, when he will be of age, to accompany him in his autonomy.
Amounts paid for the 2026 school year vary according to the schooling of the child:
Schooling of the child | Amount of ARS |
|---|---|
Primary | €429.01 |
College | €452.67 |
High school | €468.36 |
Warning
The above amounts are given after the social debt repayment contribution (CRDS) has been calculated.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General regime (Caf)
The steps are different depending on whether or not you have already received ARS for your child.
You have already received the ARS
There is no process to be done.
However, you must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the family allowance fund (Caf).
You never perceived the ARS
To be eligible for ARS in the 2026 school year, you must complete a statement of the status of family benefits and housing and a 2024 income statement.
If your child under the age of 6 is enrolled in the CP, you must also send Caf the school certificate sent by your child's institution.
Agricultural diet (MSA)
The steps are different depending on whether or not you have already received ARS for your child:
You have already received the ARS
There is no process to be done.
However, you must have filed your 2025 income tax return and the 2024 income tax return to the agricultural social mutual fund (MSA).
You never perceived the ARS
To be eligible for ARS in the 2026 school year, you must complete a statement of the status of family benefits and housing and a 2024 income statement.
If your child under the age of 6 is enrolled in CP, you must also send the MSA the school certificate sent by your child's institution.
For the 2026 school year, the ARS is paid from August 4, 2026.
This payment date applies to school children aged between 6 and 16 and to children aged between 16 and 18 whose parents have declared that they are enrolled in school or are enrolled in apprenticeship.
If you make this declaration after the official date of payment, you will receive the ARS a few days after receipt of the document by your Caf or MSA.
Optionally, allow a processing time by your bank.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General regime (Caf)
You must report your change of situation promptly:
Agricultural diet (MSA)
You must report your change of situation promptly:
You can also submit the form cerfa no. 11423 send it to your MSA or by post.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General regime (Caf)
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Agricultural diet (MSA)
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Declaration of change of address
Please note
If you change department, the MSA of your home will automatically take care of the transfer of the file to your new caisse. This transfer will take place as soon as you register your new address.
Conditions of award
Calculation of ARS
Conditions of award
National Family Allowance Fund (Cnaf)
Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC)
News
Quand recevrez-vous l’allocation de rentrée scolaire (ARS) ?
Publié le 20 juillet 2026
