The back -to -school allowance (ARS) is paid this Tuesday, August 19. Each year debates take place on the use that the beneficiaries of this aid would do. However, studies show that it is used to pay supplies and not appliances.
TVs or household appliances, instead of notebooks and pens. Each year, beneficiaries of the back -to -school allowance are suspected of using the money of this aid to make purchases unrelated to the start of their child.
In 2021 the Minister of National Education of the time, Jean-Michel Blanquer, had himself suggested, claiming “that there are sometimes purchases of larger flat screens in September”.
Words that had aroused a certain controversy at the time. But then, what about? Are the 423 to 462 euros paid for each child diverted to finance the recipients of the beneficiaries?
ARS covers 1/3 of tuition spending
No indicator or study makes it possible to say that the ARS is used to finance goods which are not linked to schooling. On the other hand, there is indeed a survey published in 2023 by the National Family Allowance Fund (CNAF) and detailing the use made by its beneficiaries.
Led with 2,024 beneficiary families, this investigation sought to know what all the expenses represented for the education of a child over a year. And made it possible to estimate that in everything, these are an average of 1,315 euros. The ARS would therefore only cover the third party.
Regarding the average amount spent at the start of the school year by beneficiary families, it is 400 euros according to CAF, almost the amount of the back -to -school allowance.
Of course, these expenses do not understand that school supplies: there are all the costs related to the canteen, to the clothes purchased during the year, the financing of extra -curricular activities …
If we are interested in the detail of this study, we also realize that school supplies are not the most important expense post. On average their student amount at 146 euros per child and per school year. The canteen weighs up to 335 euros and clothes 370 euros.
No diversion of the ARS
The back -to -school allowance therefore makes it possible to largely cover the school supplies of the start of the school year. But once these are made, the money from this ARS can be used for other purchases related to the child’s education.
Where does this idea come from that some households use it to buy televisions? It is mainly a received idea, which nevertheless resurfaces each year with sometimes supporting examples. Obviously, as the use of ARS remains free for beneficiaries, there may be cases of “diversion” of this allowance to buy goods which are unrelated to schooling. But these are isolated cases.
Overall, the ARS is a bowl of financial air at a time of major expenses for certain families in difficulty. A part can possibly be used for other needs, but that does not necessarily mean that there is a hijacking of the allowance.
