The November 2014 Supplementary Budget Act eliminated the earned income tax credit (Prime pour l’emploi, PPE) so that it could be merged with the in-work income supplement (RSA Activité) and become a single in-work benefit. The in-work benefit was created by the Act of 17 August 2015 on Labour‑Management Dialogue and Employment, and has been in place since 1 January 2016. The in-work benefit is better targeted to promote a return to full-time work for low-paid workers. The benefit is not paid if its monthly amount is less than EUR 15.
The amount of in-work benefit is equal to a targeted income, less the maximum between resources and a lump sum. The lump sum (‘montant forfaitaire de la prime d’activité”) was equal to EUR 563.68 from 1 January 2023 to 1 April 2023, it then increased to EUR 595.25.
The targeted income is determined as the sum of three elements:
A lump sum (before CRDS) modulated according to the composition of the household. For instance, it is increased by 50% for couple, then 30% for each child until two and 40% for each additional child. The amount may be increased for a temporary period2 for an isolated parent (128.412% of the basic lump sum for the adult and then 42.804% for each child).
An individual bonus of 29.101% of the basic lump sum is planned for persons whose net income exceeds around 100% of the net minimum wage; this bonus grows linearly if the net income is between around 50% and 100% of the net minimum wage3.
61% of the net professional income of the household.
Then resources are assessed as the sum of the household income, plus the benefits (family benefits and others, except RSA and housing benefits)4. A lump sum depending on the composition of the household (12% of the basic lump sum for a single person, 16% for a couple, 16.5% for three persons or plus) is used to take into account the housing benefits5.