countries - fr - Social protection

Social protection

In 2007, 813,000 persons received an Allocation for Disabled Adults (AAH / Allocation pour adulte handicapé) of 621 Euros a month (vs. over 900 euros a month guaranteed minimum wage (disposable income).  PWD who have no resources are eligible for this.

128,700 persons received a Disability Compensation Benefit and Personal assistance allocation (ACT/ Allocation compensatrice tierce personne & PCH/ Prestation de compensation du handicap).

152,545 families received an Allocation for the education of a disabled child (AEEH / Allocation d'éducation pour enfant handicapé). Basic amount of 120 Euros/month, with a series of supplements that can amount to 1000 Euros/month max.

907,000 persons received an Invalidity pension. Those who have worked and contributed long enough before their illness or disability are eligible. 94% are over 40. The amount   depends on the former income; the average amount is around 740 Euros a month.

1,048,000 elderly dependent persons received an Allocation for dependent seniors (APA/ allocation personnalisée d'autonomie). (A.Bourgeois & M.Duée, DREES, Etudes et Résultats, n°677, Fév.2009)

Rehabilitation and re-training

There are 88 vocational rehabilitation centres in France, providing adapted vocational training to 13 000 disabled working-age people. Their costs and trainee allowances are met by the social security fund

In 2008, the national association for adults' vocational training (AFPA)  dedicated 100 million Euros to PWD's training. (Government report to the Parliament on the outcome and orientations of disability policy, 09.02.12)

Preferential employment and quotas

Since 1987 an employment quota scheme has stipulated that companies of 20 employees or more must employ workforces including at least  6%  PWD. In 2006, over 230 000 PWD (2.6% of the total labour force of these companies) benefited from this scheme.

In 2008, Adapted enterprises (companies employing 80% disabled workers, which operate with state subsidies in the private sector), with a total capacity of 20 000, were supported with up to 297 million Euros by the State.

Sheltered workshops for PWD (whose working capacity is less than 30% of the average) have a capacity of 116 200. Granted 3.8 billion Euros, these are growing (1000 additional posts were funded in 2008, 1400 in 2009). Their cost is met by social security. (D.Velche, French vocational rehabilitation and employment policy for people with disabilities, 2009 ; Government report to the Parliament on the outcome and orientations of disability policy, 09.02.12

Long-term support and care

There are 4 types of institutionalized long-term support and care (Enquête ES 2006, DREES):

Medicalised homes: 450 institutions (capacity 13 400): for disabled persons and multiple disabilities, totally or partially dependent for activities of daily living, requiring medical care and permanent assistance

Specialised homes: 470 institutions (capacity 19 600): also for heavily disabled persons and multiple disabilities, requiring medical care and permanent assistance for daily living activities

Occupational (or life) homes: 1440 institutions (capacity 43 400): for PWD who cannot work and have some physical and intellectual autonomy

Residential homes: 1360 institutions (capacity 41 800): housing PWD working in sheltered workshops, adapted enterprises or in mainstream employment during the day.

In total, 3720 homes for adults with disabilities under 60 provided a capacity of 118 200.  The number has increased by 23% and their capacity by 19% since 2001.

70 to 93% places in these institutions are residential. However day care provision in these institutions is progressing, particularly in occupational homes (the largest capacity): in 2001 14% of their capacity was dedicated to day care provisions against 25% in 2006. This progressive change goes along with the development of new services of individual assistance at home (SAVS: services of social life aid; SAMSAH: services of medico-social assistance for disabled adults)

These institutions are provided by NGOs (the majority) or local authorities.  Costs are met by local authorities and /or social security with residents' contribution from their disabled adult allocation.