
The Christmas bonus will be paid on December 15 to 2.3 million households receiving minimum social benefits.
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The Christmas bonus is exceptional aid paid to beneficiaries of certain social minimums. The government has set aside a budget of 450 million euros for the 2026 edition.
Good news for hundreds of thousands of French people: the traditional Christmas bonus will be paid in a few weeks, on December 15 precisely, as indicated by the Minister of Labor Jean-Pierre Farandou on Sunday in La Tribune Dimanche. What amount? Who is affected? Le Figaro answers your questions.
Who gets the Christmas bonus?
This aid is reserved for certain beneficiaries of minimum social benefits. This concerns people receiving active solidarity income (RSA), the specific solidarity allowance (ASS) or the retirement equivalent allowance (AER) in November or December 2026. In total, 2.3 million households will receive it this year. “Depending on your bank, there may be up to 8 working days before the payment is posted to your bank account,” specifies the Family Allowance Fund (Caf).
How much is it?
The amount of the Christmas bonus will remain unchanged compared to last year. That is, for RSA beneficiaries, 152 euros for a person living alone and without children, 228 euros for a household of two people, 274 euros for a household of three people, and up to 442 euros for a couple with four children, according to Caf figures.
For beneficiaries of ASS or AER, however, the amount of the premium is set at 152.45 euros.
This aid is paid automatically by the Caf, the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA) and France Travail, without the beneficiaries having to take any steps. In fact, the organizations which distribute it already have all the information necessary to identify the beneficiaries of the benefits giving entitlement to the Christmas bonus.
Furthermore, this assistance is not subject to income tax. However, you should ensure that your file and your personal information (family situation, bank details, etc.) are up to date in your personal space with the organization concerned.
What budget does this aid represent?
Last year, the Christmas bonus represented a budget for the State of 474 million euros, up 2.2% compared to the year 2024, according to a Senate report. This progression resulted “in particular from the lack of implementation of the parametric savings measures envisaged due to political arbitration occurring too late”, explained the upper house.
The draft state budget for 2026 initially planned to reserve the bonus only for people with children, but the executive ultimately returned to this idea in the face of outcry. This year, the budget “protected” by the government amounts to 450 million euros, Jean-Pierre Farandou said on Sunday.
What is the origin of this bonus?

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