Financial solidarity between households 36 billion euros in annual aid transferred between households

According to the Family Budget survey conducted in 2011, half of all households in the two months preceding the survey provided financial assistance to another household, either by transferring money to it or by covering some of its expenses. This inter-household assistance is provided mainly within families, and more particularly from ascendants to the descendants. The largest amounts of assistance occur when the reference person in the household has reached the age of 50, when the children leave the home. This financial aid goes toward improving the resources of the youngest generations, but does not erase disparities in standard of living by age. The poorest households, especially those with students or young people entering the labour market, are those receiving the most assistance, as are single-parent families.