For as long as social assistance has existed, there have always been, in France, people whose modest income entitles them to social assistance and who, however, do not seek to benefit from it or resign, after being informed. And when we ask the French for the reasons that may explain why some deprive themselves of this financial support, we find a wide variety of explanations.
The Drees (Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics of the Ministry of Labor) lists them in its latest survey on the subject published this Wednesday. Lack of information remains the main reason, mentioned first by 39% of respondents. Then come the complexity of the procedures (23%), the fear of negative consequences (18%) and the desire to manage alone (16%).
Fear of negative consequences, an increasingly common reason
This DREES study asking the same questions every year, we can see that the lack of information, if it still dominates in the answers, is mentioned less and less. In 2017, 53% of those surveyed saw it as the main cause of non-use of social assistance.
On the contrary, the number of French people who highlight the desire to get out of themselves, not to appear as an assisted person, has clearly increased, since only 11% cited this reason in 2017. Just as more and more people are pointing out the negative consequences of using social assistance: having to render accounts, being subject to control, losing other rights, having to pay taxes to those who were evading or having problems with the administration.
Family allowances are the best-known social benefits
In addition, the knowledge that the French have of the different social benefits existing at the national level differs from one system to another. Those that have existed for a long time and benefit a large number of households enjoy an exceptional reputation: 97% of the French are aware of family allowances (5 million beneficiaries), 96% of housing allowances (6.1 million) and 95%, the RSA (4.2 million).
On the other hand, slightly less than four out of ten French people have already heard of the personalized autonomy allowance (1.3 million and a half elderly beneficiaries). As for the supplementary health insurance with financial participation, it suffers from its youth. Only 28% of those surveyed say they are aware of the existence of this mutual fund at a very affordable price (from 8 to 30 euros per month, depending on age) that is offered subject to means testing. Its beneficiaries are limited to 1.3 million people, a figure that could be much higher if all those who are entitled to request it.
Source: BFM TV
