What is deemed a ‘modest income’ when referring to grants and benefits in France?

Reader Question: Government paperwork and grant applications often cite a ‘modest’ income level threshold. Is this an official amount and, if so, what is it? 

Many French aid schemes, grants, benefits, etc, cite income criteria as part of the application. 

This typically involves the income level of the applicant’s / applicants’ total household – not the individual’s – income level and is aimed at ensuring schemes benefit people from lower wealth brackets. 

Income level requirements generally apply to the household’s revenu fiscal de référence (RFR), roughly its net taxable income. 

This figure is calculated by the tax authorities, and can be found on your annual tax statement (avis), sent out in the summer following each spring’s income tax return. 

When applying for grants or other aid schemes, check the information that is required. Some ask for the N-1 figure (the figure from the previous year), and some for the N-2 (the figure from two years ago). 

There is sometimes a sub-criteria that allows you to divide your household’s RFR based on the number of ‘parts’ inside, or otherwise allow you to add a fixed amount based on the number of people in the household (including or excluding dependents). 

If a scheme requires a different income figure, this is usually stated to avoid confusion.

So what is the definition of a ‘modest’ income?

There is no single defined amount for what a ‘modest’ (or the lowest ‘very modest’) household is, and the word is interchangeable in different situations.

For example, the French government sometimes uses the term in relation to benefit applications for people who work.

At the same time, a study by media outlet Actu  from 2025 classed ‘12.6%’ of households in France as having a ‘modest’ income. 

French statistics body Drees calculates a ‘modest’ household income as one which is 60% - 75% of the French ‘median’ household income.

However this is not universally recognised and different aid programmes set their own limits.

Most housing renovation schemes use levels set by the Agence nationale de l’habitat, (Anah, France’s national housing agency).

This includes the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme, the social leasing scheme for heat pumps, as well as energy savings certificate schemes and certain zero-interest eco loans. 

The ‘modest’ level then varies depending on the number of individuals in the household (different from the RFR calculations), as well as the location of the property. 

For example, a household of one person living outside of Île-de-France is considered to have a ‘modest’ income if their RFR is below €22,016 (or very modest if below €17,174).

For a couple, this is below €32,198 for a modest income, or €25,116 for a very modest income.

You can find more on the income levels for 2026 here. 

Other schemes, such as the social leasing scheme for electric vehicles, also apply to ‘modest’ income households, but at different limits. In most cases, websites should state income levels that qualify, or official simulations will be available to check if you are eligible.