AAH disability allowance in France: conditions, amount and how to apply

The conditions

According to Service-Public:

• Age: 20 or over, or 16 if you are no longer counted as a dependent child for family benefits.
• Incapacity rate, set by the MDPH:
  • at least 80%;
  • or 50 to 79%, with a substantial and lasting restriction on access to work (RSDAE): your difficulties in finding or keeping a job cannot be offset, for example by an adapted job, and are expected to last at least a year.
• Residence in France, with residence conditions for non-French nationals (EU citizens and others must generally have lived in France for more than 3 months, unless working; others must be legally resident).
• Income: it must stay below a ceiling.

Which income counts

Since 1 October 2023, only your own income counts: your partner’s income is no longer taken into account. If the old couple-based calculation is better for you, the CAF or MSA applies it automatically (Service-Public).

Your situation	Annual income ceiling
No dependent child	€12,499
1 child	€18,749
2 children	€24,998
3 children	€31,248

For an application in 2026, the income on your 2024 tax notice is used. Earnings from work only partly count: you can work and receive the AAH.

The amount

The AAH is €1,041.59 a month at most. If you have other income (a pension, an annuity), you receive the difference (Service-Public).

For how long

Incapacity rate	Length of award
At least 80%	1 to 10 years, or for life if the disability cannot improve
50 to 79%	1 to 2 years, or up to 5 years if the disability cannot improve

Applying

1. Fill in the MDPH form (CERFA 15692). In part E, tick the AAH. The form then asks you to fill in part D as well, about your work situation.
2. Have the medical certificate (less than a year old) filled in by your doctor. Prepare the appointment: the medical certificate.
3. Describe your daily life in part B with concrete examples, especially for a 50 to 79% rate: your difficulties at work and in everyday life are what show the restriction on access to work. See part B.
4. Send the application to the MDPH of your département, online if it offers this, or by post.

An AAH application also triggers a review of RQTH status and work referral, with no extra step.

After applying

The CDAPH decides within 4 months. With no reply after 4 months, the application is treated as refused. You can challenge a decision within 2 months through an administrative appeal to the MDPH, then before the judicial court (Service-Public). Our guide to challenging an MDPH decision explains the steps and gives a sample letter.

If the AAH is granted, the CAF (or the MSA) pays it: tell them about any change in your situation.