Finance

[KayJay]

Ok, so I'm pretty new to all this and any info gratefully received. I am hoping to move to France with some friends, I am a single mother with 1 small child. Intially I will not have a job although the long term goal is to secure employment. Will I be entitled to any benefits / financial assistance through the french social security system. I've been working in UK, part time for last 3 1/2 years. Previously full time employment since leaving school, some 17 odd years ago. Thanx in advance.

[cooperlola]

In broad terms the answer is no, you will not be entitled to benefits here.  Depending upon your employment record (what level of UK National Insurance contributions you have been paying, and for how long) - you may be entitled to health cover paid for by the UK government for up to 30 months, but as a part-timer in the UK this is likely to be very restricted, and may only last 12 months or so, if indeed you are entitled at all.  Social security benefits are not payable, unless you have an employment record here.

Inactive people cannot now move to France, unless they prove a minimum income (the  amounts are given in the link below and also in Albert's the I/G's post) or they have employment already lined up.  Thus, imo, your chances are probably  slim to none. 

Have a look at THIS and you will see what I mean.  Here's a pertinent paragraph:

Les retraités et autres inactifs doivent disposer, pour eux et les membres de leur famille, de ressources suffisantes pour ne pas devenir une charge pour le système d'assistance sociale français et d'une assurance maladie-maternité. 

Roughly: Retired and other inactives must prove, for themselves and their families [that they have] sufficient resources not to become a burden on the French social security system and must have sickness and maternity insurance.

Edited following the posts below.

[Albert the InfoGipsy]

[quote user="cooperlola"]

a minimum income (the level amounts to the equivalent of a French person working full time at minimum wage) [/quote]

Coops, I thought the level was set to just over the RMI (447,91 Euro/month for a single person), rather than being related to the SMIC (about 1200 Euro/month working full time). Can you give a link for this?

[cooperlola]

Oops, yes you are correct.  I will amend the original post, thanks.  (The amounts are in the link, btw).  Thanks, Albert.[:)]

[KayJay]

Thanx for info so far, but what are RMI and SMIC what does this mean, I am a novice with all this, is there somone who I can contact, in one of the organisations that deal with all this, to talk through what options I may /may not have.

Kay Jay.

[Sunday Driver]

Kay Jay

These terms can seem confusing, but to explain matters, the one that most concerns you is RMI (revenu minimum d'insertion). 

It's a basic means tested benefit which is awarded to people who have little or no income and acts as a qualifying threshold for other social security benefits.  For a single person with one child, it amounts to 671,87€ per month.

Under French immigration rules, if you're not working, then you can't get social security benefits.  So. if you have no job, you have to have sufficient 'own' money, ie at least 671,87€ per month - which effectively takes you over the benefits threshold.

The bottom line is if you can't find a job within three months or alternatively provide the required proof of income, you simply won't be allowed to remain in France.