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WE LOOK AT THE AID SCHEMES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN FRANCE TO HELP OLDER PEOPLE TO CONTINUE LIVING AT HOME READER QUESTION: I REMEMBER READING IN THE CONNEXION THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW SCHEME
TO HELP ADAPT HOMES FOR OLD AGE. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS – WHAT IS NOW AVAILABLE? Last year, France announced the creation of a new grant scheme to help people to age-proof their homes
instead of needing to move into a care home further down the line. It is expected that this will be targeted at people over 70, especially those who are on low incomes. The scheme, dubbed
MaPrimeAdapt', is set to be launched in 2024. The government has said the objective of MaPrimeAdapt’ will be to “do more, and more simply”, including providing a more user-friendly
system and more support. The creation of MaPrimeAdapt' in 2024 should also come with a larger budget. France currently spends €152million a year on adapting housing, compared to
€580million in the UK. WHAT AIDS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? In the meantime, however, several other aid programmes already fulfil a similar function, as detailed below. Each of these applies
only to your primary residence, not to second homes. There may also be local schemes in your area. Contact your mairie for more information (in larger towns the relevant service is the
_centre communal d'action sociale_). _HABITER FACILE_: This scheme from the Agence Nationale de l’Habitat helps towards making rooms in your home more accessible. For example, this
could include widening doors for wheelchair users, installing a ramp, or replacing a bathtub with a shower. READ MORE: A GUIDE TO RETIREMENT HOMES IN FRANCE Applicants with ‘very modest
financial resources’ can have 50% of the cost of the work paid for, up to €10,000. Those with ‘modest resources’ can get help for 35% of the costs, up to €7,000. The means testing depends
whether you live in the Paris region or elsewhere in France. A person living alone in Ile-de-France is considered to have ‘very modest resources’ when they earn up to €22,461 and ‘modest
resources’ up to €27,343, compared to €16,229 and €20,805 elsewhere. The full thresholds are available here, and you should use the _revenu fiscal de référence_ found on your last income tax
assessment. PENSION FUND: Further help is available from regional _caisses de retraite_ (pension funds). Not all foreign residents will be eligible, however, as you must have a French
pension in order to qualify and your main pension regime should be the ‘general’ scheme (as opposed to one for a specific kind of work). You can obtain up to €3,500 towards modifications
such as changing the floor surface or making shutters motorised, energy-efficiency works such as changing your boiler or installing insulation, and equipment such as path lighting or
bathroom aids. You cannot combine it with various disability and autonomy benefits such as _Allocation personnalisée d’autonomie_ (Apa) or _Prestation de compensation du handicap_. You can
apply online here and more information is available (in French) at this link. TAX CREDITS: It is also possible to apply for a tax credit, worth 25% of the cost of adapting the property. This
can apply within ceilings of €5,000-worth of work for a single person, and €10,000 for a couple. This is available for homeowners and renters. You must also have a _carte mobilité
inclusion_ disabled person’s card, a disability pension from the military or due to an accident at work, or be eligible for the Apa, which helps people with dependency needs. RELATED
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