Benefits available

Dear Val

I promised you that I would check out benefits available to British citizens living in France.  Please
 put it wherever you would find it fits but I'd prefer it to go in anonymously. If there is anything which 
is not clear please do get back to me before you print it!

Val says thank you for the very useful information, let us hope it is a site which is used with such helpful
information

I will add a label in the side bar, benefits available.

There is a very useful website which lists them all https://www.gov.uk/living-in-france/

but here is a summary of those most useful to those of us who are not working and do not have school 
age children

The attendance allowance

This is non means tested and tax free. It is payable at two different rates - lower and higher depending on 
the level of care someone needs. An example of someone who might receive the lower level is 
someone over 90, who lives with somone else is registered blind, needs their shopping and cooking 
done while the higher level would be someone who is demented, incontentent and needs constant 
supervision. Someone who is diagnosed as having terminal cancer (given only weeks or a very few 
months to live) is automatically entitled to receive the higher rate even if they outlive their original 
prognosis.

The carers allowance

This is taxable but is payable if someone earns less than £100 a week and look after someone for 
more that 35 hours a week. Care includes such things as shopping,cooking, clothes washing and 
cleaning as well as personal care. 

Mobility allowance

The French equivalent is payable to UK nationals resident in France. who cannot walk very far and 
or use public transport. There is usually a qualifying period before the allowance is paid. It is 
different in each department but averages about 6 months. The form is quite complicated and it is a 
good idea to get someone with a good knowledge of French to help you fill it in. A doctor will need 
to be involved as well to confirm the level of mobility 

Pension Credit

Again the French equivalent is payable as a top up for those whose income falls below the level of 
the full French pension. The forms are available from your local Mairie and it is recommended that 
you get an Assistant Sociale to help you fill in the forms which are quite complicated. Again someone 
with a good knowledge of French may be helpful in getting the forms completed quickly and 
accurately.

French equivalent of Pension credit also entitles the recipient to electricity at a reduced rate and CMU 
which is effectively a free lowest form of complementaire for health care. 

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