Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) letter explained in English
Family benefits office. Pays family benefits, housing help (APL), the RSA and the prime d’activité.
Letters you may get
- Notification de droits — what you get and from when
- Demande de pièces justificatives — they need documents from you
- Notification d’indu — you were paid too much and must pay it back
- Contrôle — they check your situation
What to do
- Tell the CAF about every change (income, address, household) quickly. Late changes are the main reason for overpayments.
- If you disagree with a decision, write to its appeals board (Commission de recours amiable). The letter says how long you have — often 2 months.
- Find the deadline. Look for “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”). See the template.
Words you may see
- recours amiable
- A first appeal to the CAF, Assurance Maladie or URSSAF. It goes to their appeals board (Commission de recours amiable, CRA).
- notification
- Official delivery of a decision. Deadlines often start from this day.
- pièces justificatives
- Supporting documents, for example payslips, contracts or bills.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that you have to pay back.
Questions
What is the Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF)?
Family benefits office. Pays family benefits, housing help (APL), the RSA and the prime d’activité.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard” — they mark the deadline. In France, a deadline usually starts on the day you receive the letter — for a registered letter, often the day the post first tried to deliver it. The 3 days are only an estimate, so check the envelope or the delivery notice. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”).
Can I read a Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in France
Finances publiques (DGFiP) · Trésor public / Service de gestion comptable · France Travail (ex Pôle emploi) · Préfecture / ANEF · OFII · Assurance Maladie (CPAM) · Mutuelle / complémentaire santé · URSSAF