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Statutory minimum
Definition
The statutory minimum is designed to provide a minimum income to a person (or their family) in an insecure situation. This is social benefit without mandatory contributions; that is, it is paid without social contributions being due in return. The French statutory minimum system includes various schemes (including a specific one for overseas departments).
The RSA (active solidarity income), designed to combat exclusion, is one of the best-known of these benefits.
The other allowances are targeted to specific types of people confronted with the risk of poverty, for example :
- very long-term unemployed, with the specific solidarity allowance (ASS) for those who have exhausted their unemployment benefit entitlement ;
- disabled people (adult disability allowance - AAH) ;
- the elderly (old-age minimum).
Note
This type of benefit is means tested and therefore enables beneficiaries to reach the minimum income level in question.
