As these statuses are frequently changing, they are described here as they were in effect (particularly in terms of amounts) at the time the survey was conducted (2014–2016). The source, unless otherwise specified, is service-public. fr.

• • Disabled child education allowance (Allocation d’éducation de l’enfant handicapé [AEEH]): Paid to the parents of a disabled child, the benefit aims at compensating the costs of education and care. It was previously called the special education allowance (Allocation d’éducation spéciale [AES]). It is made up of a basic benefit (awarded based on a disability rate of 50 per cent or more) and possibly a ‘complement’, the amount of which depends on the administrative classification of the child’s ‘level of disability’ (on a scale from 1 to 6). The amount of the basic AEEH is €130.12. Supplements range from €227.71 (level 1) to €1,234.30 (level 6). There is a ‘single parent supplement’ for single parents who raise their child alone.

• • Disabled adult benefit (Allocation aux adultes handicapés [AAH]): Created in 1975 (following the allocation aux handicapés adultes created in 1971), this benefit is designed as a minimum subsistence income (Ville et al 2014). It is part of the minimum social benefits and is means-tested. It is awarded based on an administrative determination of the person’s ‘disability rate’, which must be greater than 80 per cent, or between 50 per cent and 79 per cent but accompanied by a ‘substantial and lasting restriction on access to employment’. The monthly amount of the AAH for a single person without children is thus €808.46. In addition to the AAH, a ‘supplement for independent living’ of €104.77 per month may be paid to people with a recognized disability of more than 80 per cent who live in independent accommodation. After notification from the MDPH, the CAF is the paying agency for this benefit.

• • Third-party compensation benefit (Allocation compensatrice pour tierce personne [ACTP]): Created in 1975, the ACTP, which is means-tested and paid in cash, is intended to finance human assistance for people with a recognized level of disability of more than 80 per cent, generally for no more than three hours a day (Beyrie 2015).