When a child blows out their three candles, several benefits from the CAF stop or change. The basic allowance of the Paje, paid since birth, ends. The free choice of childcare supplement changes its scale. Family allowances continue, but according to rules that few families understand. Accurately measuring what disappears, what persists, and what appears after 3 years allows for anticipating the impact on the family budget.
Comparative table of CAF aids before and after 3 years
The crossing of the 3-year mark modifies the list of benefits a family can claim. The table below summarizes the main aids concerned.
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| Benefit | Before 3 years | After 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Paje allowance | Paid subject to income conditions | Cancelled (ends the month before the 3rd birthday) |
| Free choice of childcare supplement (CMG) | Increased amount for children under 3 years | Reduced amount, paid until the child is 6 years old |
| Family allowances | Paid from 2 dependent children | Maintained, with an increase at 14 years |
| Family supplement | Not eligible | Available subject to income conditions (children aged 3 to 21 years) |
| Back-to-school allowance (ARS) | Not eligible | Paid from 6 years subject to income conditions |
| Housing aids (APL, ALF, ALS) | Paid according to household composition | Maintained, the child remains dependent |
Understanding CAF aids after 3 years requires distinguishing between benefits related to early childhood, which cease, and those that support the family in the long term.
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End of the Paje and distinction between birth and adoption
The basic allowance of the Paje is the most visible item that disappears at 3 years. This aid, paid monthly subject to income conditions, stops in the month preceding the third birthday of a child born after a conventional birth.
In contrast, for an adopted child, the duration logic differs. The Paje adoption follows distinct age limit rules, which can extend the payment beyond the 3-year threshold in certain cases. The end of the Paje does not follow the same timeline depending on whether it is a birth or an adoption.
This distinction, noted in the 2026 regulatory updates, remains little known to families. It is worth checking directly on the online CAF account, as rights are recalculated automatically without systematic notification.
Family supplement and CMG: two aids that take over after 3 years
Family supplement, available from 3 years
The family supplement opens up to families with at least three children, all aged 3 to 21 years. It is subject to an income ceiling and comes in two rates: a basic rate and an increased rate for the lowest incomes.
This benefit partially compensates for the loss of the basic Paje allowance for large families. Its amount varies according to the household income, calculated based on the net taxable income of year N-2 (i.e., the income for 2024 for rights in 2026).
The CMG after 3 years: a reduced amount until 6 years
The free choice of childcare supplement does not abruptly stop at 3 years. It continues to be paid if the child is cared for by a licensed childminder, a home caregiver, or a micro-crèche, but at a lower rate.
The decrease in CMG after 3 years varies according to the income brackets of the household. Families that relied on this supplement to finance after-school care must anticipate a higher out-of-pocket expense between 3 and 6 years.
Family allowances and age-related increases
Family allowances, paid from two dependent children, are not affected by the 3-year mark. They continue until each child is 20 years old (provided their net monthly income does not exceed 55% of the net minimum wage, which is 1,117.26 euros according to the current scale).
The age-related increase mechanism provides a significant supplement over time:
- At 14 years, an age increase is added to the basic amount of family allowances for each concerned child, except for the eldest in a family of two children
- At 20 years, for families with at least three children, a provisional flat-rate allowance may be paid if the child still lives at home and if the allowances were already paid the month before their 20th birthday
- The child remains considered dependent in terms of the CAF from 3 to 15 years if they fulfill the obligation of school education, then from 16 to 20 years under professional income conditions
This progressive system means that the total amount of family allowances increases as children grow, partially compensating for the lost early childhood aids.
Housing aids and back-to-school allowance: maintained or forthcoming rights
Housing aids (APL, ALF, or ALS) do not change on the child’s third birthday. The child remains counted in the household composition, which affects the calculation of the amount paid. No action is required from the parents.
The back-to-school allowance, paid each year subject to income conditions, is only accessible from the child’s 6th birthday. Families whose child has just turned 3 must therefore wait three more years before being eligible.
Holidays and occasional CAF aids
Beyond monthly benefits, the CAF offers occasional aids for leisure and family vacations. Support schemes for stays in summer camps or family holidays exist in certain departmental funds. These aids are not linked to the age of 3 and remain accessible as long as the child is dependent.
The third birthday marks the end of a cycle of benefits focused on early childhood, not the end of support from the CAF. The family supplement, the increases in family allowances at 14 years, and the ARS at 6 years structure a calendar of aids that evolves with the age of each child. Checking one’s rights on the CAF simulator after each change in situation remains the most reliable way to avoid missing out on a benefit.