This aid, currently 58.59 euros per day, is paid to relatives who take leave to care for a disabled person or a person with a loss of autonomy.
The use of the daily caregiver allowance (Ajpa) remains modest, with 6,626 entitlements open between its launch in September 2020 and February 2022, according to a report published by the Social Security Department shortly before Caregiver Day on 6 october. When it was implemented in 2020, it was estimated that 270,000 employees and 67,000 public officials were eligible for Ajpa. This aid, currently 58.59 euros per day, is paid to relatives who take leave to care for a disabled person or a person with a loss of autonomy.
Nearly two thirds of the people helped are over sixty years old: 31% between 60 and 79 years old, 32% between 80 and 89 years old and 12% over 90 years old, according to an evaluation report of the system. “Some of the people over the age of 60 who receive help are on the basis of a disability, and not of a situation of dependence linked to age. Thus, in total, the system benefits in equal proportion carers of people with disabilities (51%) and carers of people with age-related loss of autonomy (49%).“, notes the report.
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Why such a low rate of recourse, while the number of elderly people is increasing? The study mentions aignorance of the devicestill recent, and a poor understanding of the eligibility conditions: thus, of the 18,987 Ajpa applications filed with the Family Allowance Funds, only 6,626 of them gave rise to entitlement.
Impact of teleworking
This assessment study therefore suggests a simplification of the application procedure and a strengthening of communication around these devices. Teleworking and partial unemployment, facilitated during the Covid health crisis, have also reduced the use of the system, even though many establishments welcoming the elderly and disabled have closed.
«The massive use of teleworking and partial unemployment schemes open to employees living with a vulnerable person“were able to reduce the need to apply for caregiver leave”by already facilitating the presence of the carer with their loved one and the reconciliation with their professional life“, says the report. On the other hand, “since the Ajpa is only open for a period of 66 days and the caregiver leave for a period of one year over the entire career, caregivers have also been able to choose not to use these rights when other arrangements existed at national level».
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