Free choice of care mode (CMG) supplement: direct use
Verified 26 June 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Do you want to employ someone to babysit your children? The free choice of care method (CMG) supplement "direct use" may interest you. It is an aid paid to those who employ directly a childminder or home care. It makes it possible to cover part of the expenses related to the reception of children at the home of a childminder or to the care of children at home. We present you the information to know.
FYI
The CMG is one of the 4 helpers that make up the early childhood care (EYCB).
Conditions related to the age of the child
This condition depends on the parents' situation: single parent or other situation.
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General scenario
The child must have under 6 years old.
Single parent
A single parent can benefit from the CMG up to 12 years of the child.
Conditions related to the activity
The rules differ depending on whether you live as a couple or alone:
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You live as a couple
The rules differ depending on your situation:
Student
If you and your partner (Civil partnership, partner or common-law partner) are students, the condition of activity is not requested.
In contract of civic service
If you and your partner (Civil partnership, partner or common-law partner) are on a civic service contract, the condition of activity is not requested.
Disabled adults' allowance (AAH)
If you or your partner (Civil partnership, partner or common-law partner) receive the Adult Disability Allowance (AAH), the activity condition is not requested.
(RSA)
The condition of activity is not requested if you or your partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner or common-law partner) receive the income from active solidarity (RSA) and are registered as a jobseeker.
Specific solidarity allowance (ASS)
The condition of activity is not requested if you or your partner (Civil partnership, partner or common-law partner) receive the specific solidarity allowance (ASS).
Other
To benefit from the free choice of custody mode (CMG) supplement, you or your spouse (spouse or partner of Civil partnerships or common-law partner) must work.
Please note
If you are self-employed (shopkeeper, craftsman, self-employed, etc.), you must be up to date with the social contributions for old-age insurance. It is possible to obtain a attestation to the Urssaf.
You are considered in a work situation if you are in any of the following cases:
- Daily sickness allowance, maternity, adoption, paternity, accident at work
- Unemployment compensated
- Paid vocational training.
You live alone
The rules differ depending on your situation:
Student
If you are a student, the activity condition is not requested.
In contract of civic service
If you are on a civic service contract, the activity condition is not requested.
Disabled adults' allowance (AAH)
If you receive the Disabled Adult Allowance (AAH), the activity condition is not requested.
(RSA)
The condition of activity is not requested if you receive the income from active solidarity (RSA) and are registered as a jobseeker.
Specific solidarity allowance (ASS)
The condition of activity is not requested if you receive the specific solidarity allowance (ASS).
Other
To benefit from the free choice of custody mode (CMG) supplement, you have to work.
Please note
If you are self-employed (shopkeeper, craftsman, self-employed, etc.), you must be up to date with the social contributions for old-age insurance. It is possible to obtain a attestation to the Urssaf.
You are considered in a work situation if you are in any of the following cases:
- Daily sickness allowance, maternity, adoption, paternity, accident at work
- Unemployment compensated
- Paid vocational training.
In case of alternating residence
Since 1er December 2025, the GMC may be paid to each of the 2 parents whose children are in alternating residence. It is not a sharing of the amount, but a sharing of the help different for each parent.
Alternate residence must be real and, if parents receive family allowances for children from the same union, they must be shared.
Example :
Parent A receives €200 of CMG before 1er In December, this amount is not shared with parent B. Parent A retains the €200 of CMG and parent B receives an amount calculated according to their own situation. The amounts may therefore vary from one parent to another.
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You received the CMG direct employment on August 31, 2025
There is no need to reapply. The new calculation rule is applied automatically from the declared information.
Thus, if you are already a beneficiary of the CMG and you still employ an employee (childminder and/or home childcare) to welcome your child in September 2025, you don't have to do anything.
Indeed, you are informed of the new amount of CMG during the declaration of September 2025.
You are applying for CMG direct employment for the first time
The situation differs depending on whether you depend on the general scheme (Caf: titleContent) or the agricultural scheme (MSA: titleContent).
If your child is between 6 and 12 years old, the application for CMG can only take placefrom september 2025.
Caf
You're not a recipient
It is necessary to create a Caf account. Account creation will be used in future exchanges with Caf. It is mandatory for any request for benefits.
Request for additional freedom of choice of custody mode (Cmg-Paje) - Caf
You are already a recipient
Contact your Caf.
MSA
You're not a recipient
You are already a recipient
The amount of CMG depends on:
- From your monthly resources
- The number of dependent children
- The hourly cost of the chosen care (salary, meal expenses and maintenance allowance in case of care by a childminder)
- The number of hours on call per month.
The hourly cost of care is taken into account within the limit of an hourly limit.
FYI
The social security contributions covered by the CMG are:
- 100% for the employment of an approved childminder,
- 50% for the use of home care, within the applicable monthly limit.
A simulation tool allows you to know your CMG direct employment:
Simulate your help for the employment of a licensed childminder or home care
The reform of the calculation method may result in a decrease in the amount of your CMG.
In this case, you can benefit automatically a supplement if 2 conditions are met:
- Sufficient use of childcare between March and May 2025
- Your resources must be below a certain ceiling.
This payment shall be made at the same time as the CMG.
Yes, in case of part-time work, the CMG can be cumulated with the shared child-rearing benefit (PreParE).
There are several situations:
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General scenario
No, the GMC for the same child cannot be combined with the additional birth leave.
Children born between 1 January and 30 June 2026
Cumulation is possible.
Children born prematurely whose birth was scheduled for 1 January 2026
Cumulation is possible.
Multiple GMCs for multiple children can be combined. Check with your caisse to find out if you are eligible.
As an employer, you must register with Pajemploi to report wages paid to your home care:
Urssaf Pajemploi service online
To obtain your GMC, you must declare the remuneration paid for custody each month.
The Pajemploi Center:
- Calculates and pays the amount of the CMG
- And tells you how much you may have to pay.
You can also join the Pajemploi+ service on your personal space.
In this case, 2 days after the declaration of salary, the national center Pajemploi takes care of taking the salary from your bank account, after deducting the amount of the CMG.
3 days after the declaration, he pays the salary to the employee's bank account.
FYI
Before using the Pajemploi+ service, you must have obtained the agreement of your employee.
The GMC is paid from the month preceding your application if the conditions are met. It stops on calendar month following the one in which one of the conditions is no longer fulfilled.
You have to differentiate according to whether you depend on the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent :
Caf
Several changes can occur.
Change in family situation
Quickly report any changes in your family situation (examples: birth of a child, marriage, separation, unemployment).
Change of domicile
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
MSA
Change in family situation
Quickly report any changes in your family situation (examples: birth of a child, marriage, separation, unemployment).
Example :
Being in a relationship can give you new rights. Ask your MSA: titleContent.
You can also go there or send the form cerfa no. 11423 by post.
Change of domicile
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.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you depend on the general diet
Family allowance fund, CafIf you depend on the farm system
Agricultural social mutual fund (MSA)
General provisions
Exclusion of AJPP and CMG from April 1 upgrades
General provisions
https://www.mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr/accueil/