Family Support Allowance (FSA): separated parents
Verified 01 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The Family Support Allowance (FSA) is paid by the Family Allowance Fund (Caf) or the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA) to the person who raises his child alone without the help of one of his parents, under conditions.
In all cases, to be eligible for the BSO, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Living alone
- Reside in France
- Have at least 1 dependent child for which the other parent no longer participates in the interview for at least 1 month or pays you child support less than €200.78.
Reminder
BSO is removed if you live as a couple.
There are a number of different scenarios.
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The other parent does not pay a pension
Maintenance has been fixed
The BSO is paid to you in advance.
Maintenance must be determined by a judgment or agreement of divorce by mutual consent filed with a notary.
Your Caf (or MSA) has 2 means of action:
- Acting on your behalf to recover the pension if the other parent does not pay it (not fully or not regularly)
- Establish a recovery procedure against the other parent to recover up to 2 years of unpaid child support.
The other parent cannot pay child support
The FCA (or MSA) can pay you the BSO if the other parent cannot meet their obligation maintenance (insolvency, unemployment, incarceration, RSA, etc.).
It checks the other parent's situation. Based on the information gathered, it tells you whether you need to take steps to set a support payment.
No maintenance payments have been set
The BSO is paid to you for 4 months.
To maintain your BSO entitlement beyond 4e month, you must within this period:
- If you are not in possession of any court decision: initiate an action with the family judge of the court of your home, in order to fix a maintenance
- If you are in possession of a court decision not fixing maintenance: initiate an action to review the court decision with the same judge.
Who shall I contact
The pension paid is less than €201.78
If the amount of maintenance received is less than €200.78, you receive the differential family support allowance. The Caf or the MSA pays you a supplement to achieve €200.78.
If the difference is less than €15, the differential BSO shall not be paid.
Please note
The differential BSO, due for each month, is paid once every 3 months.
The approach differs depending on whether you depend on the general scheme (Caf) or agricultural (MSA):
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General case (Caf)
You must complete and send to your Caf the cerfa form n°12038 of BSO application (and the accompanying form n°11423 of situation declaration).
Attach the requested documents in the form according to your situation.
Agricultural Scheme (MSA)
You must complete and send to your MSA the Cerfa BSO Application Form (and the Cerfa Status Declaration Form that accompanies it).
Attach the requested documents in the form (page 4) according to your situation.
Application for Family Support Allowance (FSA), Intermediation and Recovery Assistance (MSA)
The amount of the BSO is €200.78 per month and per child.
The amount of the differential BSO is equal to the difference between the amount of the pension received and €200.78.
The allowance is payable from the month following the separation of the parents.
You have to differentiate according to whether you depend on the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent :
Caf
Several changes may occur.
Change in family situation
Quickly report any changes in your family situation (examples: birth of a child, marriage, separation, unemployment).
Family Allowances and Benefits - Statement of Situation (Caf)
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 mail.
Family Allowances and Benefits - Statement of Situation (MSA)
Change of domicile
You can report your change of address using the online change of address service:
Please note
If you change department, the MSA of your home of departure 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.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you depend on the general plan
Family Allowance Fund (Caf)If you depend on the farm system
Agricultural Social Mutuality (MSA)
Conditions for award
No payment less than €15 (Article D523-3)
Family benefits paid monthly (start and end of entitlement)
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