Can a foreigner pensioner benefit from the Family and Social Life Support (FSSA)?

Verified 01 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

If you are retired of nationality foreign and if you want to live temporarily or permanently in your country of origin, you can benefit, under certain conditions, from theFamily and Social Assistance (FSSA). This aid is intended to compensate for the loss of certain benefits which are more paid in case of residence abroad (e.g. the solidarity allowance for the elderly - Aspa). We present you the information to know.

Assistance for family and social life (AVFS) is a monthly allowance granted to pensioner of foreign nationality having low resources and wishing reside, temporarily or permanently, in their country of origin.

It is awarded under certain conditions and its amount depends on your resources.

The management of the AVFS is ensured by the Caisse de la Agricultural social mutual fund (MSA) of Picardy for all of France.

In order to benefit from AVFS, you must have obtained or applied for all retirement pensions to which you are entitled, including from foreigner pension plans and international organizations.

You must also meet several other conditions related to your nationality, age, residence and resources.

Nationality

You must be a foreign national.

Age

You must be aged at least 65 years.

However, if you are recognized as unfit for work or if you touch theallowance for adults with disabilities (AAH), you can apply for AVFS from 62 years.

Residence

You must be housed alone in migrant workers' homes or in social residences at the time you apply for help.

You must fill out a length of residence in France variable depending on whether you are from a country of origin or Switzerland or another country:

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or Switzerland

You can collect the AVFS if you reside in France since more than 3 months.

Other country

You can collect AVFS if you live in France for at least 15 years.

You must also be in a legal situation, i.e. have a residence permit or a receipt for an application to renew a residence permit.

Resources

Your resources must be less than  €8,829.60 per year.

The resources taken into account are all the categorical net income of the year preceding that of the application.

The request is made using form cerfa n°16149:

Application for assistance with family and social life (AVFS)

You must send your application to the MSA of Picardy, regardless of where you live in France.

Warning  

The application must be accompanied by the supporting documents listed on page 4 of the form.

The maximum amount of the AVFS is €735.80 per month.

If your annual resources are less than or equal to €735.80, the AVFS is allocated to you at the maximum amount of €735.80 per month.

If your annual resources are greater than €735.80 and less than €8,829.60, the amount of the AVFS decreases according to your resources.

If your annual resources are greater than  €8,829.60, AVFS is not assigned.

The aid shall be paid every month term expired, i.e. at the beginning of the month following the month to which it relates (beginning of February for January, beginning of March for February, etc.).

It is due from 1er the day of the month following the date of receipt of your request.

The 1er payment shall be made no later than 2 months after the award decision.

Example :

If the application is lodged on 16 April 2025, the aid shall be granted from 1er May 2025.

You must inform the MSA Picardy fund of any change in the amount of your income or your place of residence.

It is not possible to combine the AVFS with other aids or benefits (RSA, specific solidarity allowance - ASS, solidarity allowance for the elderly - Aspa, allowance for adults with disabilities - AAH, personalized housing support - APL,...).

You keep health coverage for your medical care in France, regardless of where you live abroad.

Access to the French healthcare system is therefore possible even if you leave the French territory for more than 6 months.

The AVFS is automatically renewed every year as long as you meet the conditions to benefit from it.

But you have to declare every year your resources using cerfa form n°16150:

Assistance for Family and Social Life (AFSW) - Resource Statement

In the absence of a declaration, your aid cannot be calculated and is therefore suspended.

Upon receipt of your declaration of resources, the amount of your aid is regularized.

If you spend more than 6 months a year outside of France, you must also provide a certificate of life.

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