What social benefits are Ukrainians with temporary protection in France entitled to?
Ukrainians with a valid APS are entitled to several forms of state support. However, social benefits for Ukrainians with temporary protection differ substantially from those available to refugees or ordinary residents of France — in particular, RSA is not granted to this category.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and helps clients determine exactly which assistance they are entitled to under their status. Our experience shows that applicants who submit a complete set of documents to OFII from the outset receive the first payment significantly faster than those who provide certificates in stages.
ADA: assistance for holders of temporary protection
Allocation pour demandeur d'asile (ADA) is the main financial support available to APS holders, paid by the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII).
To receive ADA, one must be of legal age, hold a valid APS marked with temporary protection, and have income below the established RSA threshold for the relevant household composition.
ADA amount depending on household composition
The ADA amount is calculated per day and paid monthly, and its size depends on the number of persons in the household and on whether free accommodation is available.
| Household composition | Base amount per day | Amount with supplement for lack of housing |
| 1 person | €6.80 | €14.20 |
| 2 persons | €10.20 | €17.60 |
| 3 persons | €13.60 | €21.00 |
| 4 persons | €17.00 | €24.40 |
A supplement of €7.40 per day for each adult is awarded if the applicant accepted an accommodation offer but does not have free housing or lodging.
How to apply for ADA
An ADA application is submitted after obtaining an APS via the OFII desk located directly at the prefecture, or at the territorial OFII unit for the place of residence.
- A valid APS marked with temporary protection.
- A certificate of household composition and the number of persons listed in the application.
- Proof of income for the most recent period, if any such income exists.
- Bank details for the transfer of funds.
The first ADA payment is received only after the application has been fully processed at OFII, so any delay in submitting documents directly postpones receipt of the funds.
Why RSA is not available to holders of temporary protection
Unlike refugees and residents of France with prolonged income below the established minimum, holders of temporary protection are not entitled to the solidarity income (RSA).
Lawmakers explain this by the fact that RSA is designed as long-term support and is not adapted to the temporary and potentially short-term nature of protection status.
The Senate is currently discussing a legislative proposal to expand the list of available benefits; however, it expressly excludes RSA from the list and has not yet acquired the status of law.
Income thresholds for entitlement to ADA
Entitlement to ADA depends on the household income level, which must not exceed the monthly RSA threshold set according to household composition.
| Household composition | Without children | 1 child | 2 children |
| Single person | €651.69 | €977.54 | €1,173.05 |
| Couple | €977.54 | €1,173.05 | €1,368.55 |
Income is taken into account in aggregate for the entire household, including the income of a partner with whom the applicant lives as one family, even if a formal marriage has not been registered.
Housing assistance: APL and the supplement within ADA
If a holder of temporary protection rents housing independently rather than living in a free accommodation centre, they may claim personalised housing assistance (APL) through CAF on general terms.
At the same time, the ADA supplement for lack of free housing and APL relate to different situations, so the specific combination of available support should be clarified with OFII or CAF for each individual case.
Health insurance and family benefits
Holders of temporary protection gain access to the state health insurance system (Puma) immediately after registration of the application, even before the first ADA payment.
Families with children may also claim family benefits for the maintenance of children on the same terms that apply to other residents of France with the corresponding household composition.
When ADA payments may be suspended or cancelled
The right to ADA is not unconditional and may be temporarily suspended or permanently cancelled if the recipient breaches the established conditions for receiving assistance.
- Refusal of offered accommodation without a valid reason.
- Failure to attend mandatory meetings or interviews scheduled by the administration.
- Leaving the place of residence without explanation.
- Submission of inaccurate information about income or household composition.
Our experience shows that most suspensions are linked precisely to formal breaches of deadlines or non-attendance, rather than to a substantive loss of entitlement to assistance, so a prompt approach to OFII often makes it possible to restore payments.
Typical mistakes when arranging social support
The most common mistake is expecting that RSA automatically belongs to a holder of temporary protection in the same way as to refugees, which leads to disappointment and delay in arranging the assistance that is actually available.
Another widespread problem is failure to notify OFII in good time of a change in household composition, income, or address, as a result of which ADA payments may be suspended pending clarification of the circumstances.
Our experience shows that applicants who send updated documents to OFII immediately after a change in circumstances maintain continuity of payments far more often than those who postpone notification.
What may change: the bill on expanding benefits
The French Senate is considering a cross-party legislative proposal aimed at expanding the list of social benefits for holders of temporary protection.
Among the proposed changes are access to assistance for the autonomy of elderly persons (APA), assistance for persons with disabilities (AAH), the minimum pension (ASPA), and an additional disability payment.
The authors of the proposal expressly exclude RSA from the list of expanded benefits, justifying this by the temporary nature of the protection status itself, and the document has not yet acquired the status of law.
Comparative table of available and unavailable benefits
For quick orientation, we provide a summarised list of the main benefits available to holders of temporary protection, compared with those to which they are not currently entitled.
| Type of benefit | Availability for holders of temporary protection |
| ADA | available subject to income compliance with the RSA threshold |
| RSA | not available at this time |
| APL | available subject to independent rental of housing |
| Puma | available immediately after registration of the application |
| Family benefits for children | available on general terms |
Expert view: how not to lose the right to benefits
An analysis of our cases shows that most ADA suspensions are linked not to a refusal of entitlement to assistance, but to formal breaches — a missed meeting or an incomplete set of documents upon renewal.
Another important factor is the timely renewal of the APS: without a valid residence permit, the right to ADA is automatically suspended, even if all other conditions are met.
We recommend keeping a separate record of the dates of document submissions to OFII and the prefecture so that neither of the two parallel processes — status renewal and receipt of benefits — is interrupted through inattention to deadlines.
How combining work and ADA affects the family budget
Many holders of temporary protection work and receive partial ADA at the same time, until the family’s total income exceeds the established threshold.
If income from work exceeds the RSA threshold for the relevant family composition, ADA payments are discontinued; however, the right to health insurance and family benefits for children is usually retained.
Our experience shows that applicants should calculate in advance the expected income from a new job in order to avoid an unexpected full termination of ADA and to plan the family budget accordingly.
Additional support from charitable organizations
In addition to state benefits, Ukrainians with temporary protection may seek assistance from charitable and volunteer organizations that provide food packages, clothing, or one-time financial support.
Such organizations often work in partnership with SPADA or local municipalities, so information about available assistance should be clarified immediately upon the first application for status.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and helps clients properly arrange the available social support in accordance with their status.
An individual consultation helps accurately determine which social benefits for Ukrainians with temporary protection are due in a specific situation and avoid suspension of payments due to formal errors.
Every family has its own composition, income, and housing situation, so a detailed analysis together with a specialist remains the most reliable way to obtain all due support on time.
The more precisely an applicant knows which social benefits for Ukrainians with temporary protection they are actually entitled to, the less time they waste applying for assistance to which their status does not give a right.
