Poverty is increasing in France, assures the annual report of Secours catholique published this Thursday. Many people in precarious situations no longer dare to ask for the aid to which they are entitled. “There is an ambient discourse which stigmatizes and pushes the most vulnerable to give upexplains Didier Duriez, the president of the association. We induce the idea that touching the RSA means profiting. » These social benefits are also often manipulated and their amount fuels fantasies. What is the truth?
36.1% of eligible French households do not receive the RSA and see their average standard of living drop from €698 to €211 per month. As for those who receive it, more than 80% maintain incomes below the poverty line. Thus, according to INSEE, social benefits (RSA, retirement pensions, unemployment benefits, etc.) represent more than 60% of the net disposable income of the lowest 20% compared to 25% for the wealthiest 20%.
To see things more clearly, a report from Drees, the statistical service of social ministries, published in October, provides an overview.
€588 on average
First, the amount spent by the State in 2022 for social minima is 30.6 billion euros, or 3.6% of the total amount of social protection benefits and 1.2% of GDP. Then, in terms of allowances paid, we find in particulare Active solidarity income (RSA), the Allowance for disabled adults (AAH) and the Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa). Each recipient receives on average €588 per month. In detail, €788 per month for the AAH, €536 for the Specific Solidarity Allowance, €527 for the RSA and €469 for the old age minimum.
Amounts far from the accessible maximum and thousands of euros sometimes associated with these social benefits. Thus, last April, the RSA was revalued by 4.6%. An RSA beneficiary therefore receives €635.71 per month and a couple, without dependents, €953.56 per month. For the AAH, the maximum amount for single people will be €1,016 compared to €971.37 currently. “Even if we add up all possible social benefits, we will never earn more than 70% of the minimum wage”assures Didier Duriez.
Amounts that should also be taken with caution because the non-recourse rate continues to increase. “Whether it is the product of renunciation, a fear of being stigmatized, a lack of knowledge or difficulties in accessing procedures, non-recourse to social benefits is none other than the result of the distance from solidarity, produced by the administration itself”estimates Catholic Relief.
