The hypothesis of a freezing of social benefits could further complicate access to housing

The draft budget presented by François Bayrou could concern the freezing of social benefits. However, a measure with devastating consequences for access to housing.

With 1. However, 000 euros per month, “Impossible to move” and Jérôme’s situation risks getting worse, if the frost in 2026 of social benefits was confirmed, a budgetary economy measure which threatens the most precarious, fear associations.

Unemployed for a year. In addition, after apprenticeship training, Jérôme, 23, installed in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is doing so much with an allowance of “almost 700 euros” and personalized housing assistance (APL) which reached around 350 euros until March, but which is now being recalculated.

He had moved into a social residence managed by the Regional Union for the Habitat of Young people in order to leave the family nest. Consequently, but “without APL, I would not have taken this apartment”, whose rent is only 410 euros, hypothesis freezing social benefits could he assures AFP.

“I want to move in the future”. For example, but faced with rents which are “around 700 euros for an apartment here”, this project is “impossible”. For example, “Even with a minimum wage, it’s not easy. Moreover, If you want an apartment, we make a roommate.”

Unemployment allowance. active solidarity income, APL or even activity premium, are all essential social benefits for many young workers for whom “CDI is no longer the standard in entry into the job market”, recalls Aude Pinault, delegate to the housing of the National Union for the Habitat of Young people (UNHAJ).

Young workers have “few safety nets and if we freeze them all, it’s very worrying,” she adds.

In the Paris region. Mamadi, 22, combines overtime every month so as not to finish in the red, when he is still a plumbing apprentice. He must have one knee operated at the end of hypothesis freezing social benefits could the month. is on sick leave, he will only receive “600 euros, plus 110 euros of APL”, for a rent of 500 euros. “It will not do it,” he fears.

Hypothesis freezing social benefits could

“Surprise. anger”

The Foundation for the Housing of the disadvantaged shares the fears of the Unhaj and welcomed with “surprise and anger” the white year project on the social benefits in 2026 of Prime Minister François Bayrou. Christophe Robert. general delegate of the Foundation, does not digest the idea of “making the most precarious households contribute to the effort.

“Our social protection is less and less effective,” he accuses. Over the past 10 to 15 years, APLs have evolved twice as fast as rents and three times slower than charges. “

The fault of “successive decisions which. at the time, may have a lower impact, but thread by needle any drop in social benefits compared to hypothesis freezing social benefits could the reality of the cost of living reduces the capacities of access to housing”, explains Christophe Robert.

For him. the most affected by a freezing of state aid would be “single -parent families and therefore children”, as well as “young people, for whom APL are decisive to find accommodation, and poor retirees”.

Two million people aged 60. over live below the poverty line, set at 60% of the median standard of living (or 1,216 euros per month for a single person), particularly women and single people, according to the 2024 report of the association Les Petits Brothers des Poor.

For retirees “with very low means” a freezing of the minimum old age “will have an immediate effect on purchasing power”. alerts Yann Lasnier, general delegate of the association.

In terms of accommodation. there is “a protective net” for modest people over 65, whose rental lease cannot be stopped, except rehousing, “but there hypothesis freezing social benefits could are many situations on the margin where the change of a parameter can bring down a person in precariousness”, he specifies.

Yann Lasnier quotes the example of a person who would be housed by his spouse without being married. “If the spouse dies and his children decide to sell the house, the person finds himself on the street.”