France to Introduce Unified Social Allowance Bill in December 2025

The French government announced plans to introduce a bill in December 2025 to establish a "unique social allowance," aiming to consolidate multiple social benefits such as the Revenue de Solidarité Active (RSA) and certain housing aids into a single, streamlined system. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu revealed this initiative during the 94th National Assemblies of French Departments in Albi, emphasizing the objective to simplify social welfare provisions and potentially generate management savings.

This reform has been long anticipated, with President Emmanuel Macron having promised such simplification since 2018. It is primarily supported by members of the right, including Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the Republicans, who advocates for capping the allowance at 70% of the minimum wage to reduce dependency on social assistance. However, some advocacy groups have cautioned that while simplification is beneficial, care must be taken to avoid undermining support for the most vulnerable populations.

In addition to the bill announcement, Lecornu also pledged to double the emergency fund allocated to departments from 300 million to 600 million euros in 2026 to address financial pressures stemming from declining real estate revenues and rising social expenses. The Prime Minister further highlighted the necessity for major reforms in regional health agencies and suggested that local councils should have a greater role in healthcare planning.

The government is set to present the bill to the Council of Ministers in December, aiming for swift legislative action. Lecornu underscored the plan's potential to reconcile political differences by uniting diverse perspectives on social welfare reform, marking a significant step toward more coherent and efficient social benefit management in France.