APA at home: conditions, limits and out-of-pocket expenses

The Personalized Autonomy Allowance (APA) for home care finances all or part of the expenses necessary to remain at home. To be eligible, you must be at least 60 years old, classified as GIR 1, 2, 3, or 4, and reside permanently and regularly in France. There is no income requirement to receive it. However, the amount paid depends on your income: the higher your income, the greater the portion of the care plan you are responsible for, up to 90%.

This page deals with the APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) for home care. It does not cover the APA for residential care facilities, nor the rates for nursing homes. It does not provide the formula for the intermediate contribution bracket: the official source presents this information as an image, which should be consulted directly.

The conditions for obtaining the APA

The GIR is the level of loss of autonomy, assessed using the AGGIR scale. It classifies individuals into 6 GIR levels. Ten activities determine the GIR, while seven others provide additional information. GIR 1 corresponds to a person confined to bed or a wheelchair, whose mental functions are severely impaired.

If the health condition changes, the beneficiary can request a reassessment. A person classified as GIR 5 or 6 whose condition changes can submit a new application.

Maximum amounts per GIR

The APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) for home care cannot exceed a maximum monthly amount, which depends on the GIR (Autonomy Rating Group). Here are these maximum amounts, as listed on the service-public.gouv.fr information sheet, verified on June 1, 2026. The information sheet does not indicate the year in which these amounts are applicable: please verify them on the information sheet before making any decision.

Other amounts exist, for specific situations:

• Increased respite allowance for caregivers €583.52 maximum per year.
• Increase in case of hospitalization of the caregiver €1,159.32 maximum per hospitalization.
• emergency flat-rate APA €1,040.16, allocated provisionally in case of medical or social emergency.

An APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) of less than €36.93 is not paid.

The remaining cost: a contribution based on your resources

The APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) for home care is equal to the portion of the care plan you use, minus a financial contribution that remains your responsibility. This contribution depends on your monthly income. The thresholds below are listed on the service-public.gouv.fr information sheet, verified on January 1, 2026, which does not specify the year of application: check them on the information sheet before making any decision. For a single person:

For couples (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting), the total resources of the couple are divided by 1.7 before applying these thresholds.

What resources are being considered?

The guide specifically mentions: income shown on the latest tax assessment, investments subject to withholding tax, assets other than the primary residence, and capital that is neither invested nor used. Excluded, among other things, are housing allowances (ALF, ALS, APL) and life annuities established to protect against the risk of loss of independence.

This guide does not provide a specific numerical method for evaluating assets and capital. For substantial assets, the method used to calculate them should be verified before submitting the application.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Mr. and Mrs. Roche, a fictional profile, live at home. Mrs. Roche is classified as GIR 3. The department offers a support plan of €1,000 per month, which they accept. The couple has €6,000 in monthly income (based on the fictional profile).

Issue. What portion of the support plan does the APA cover?

Strategy. Applying the couple's rule: €6,000 ÷ 1.7 = €3,529.41. This amount exceeds €3,439.31. The remaining cost is therefore 90% of the accepted assistance plan. For comparison, a household with resources not exceeding €933.89 has no contribution.

Result.

In the hypothetical profile, the APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) covers 10% of the plan's %. It exceeds €36.93: therefore, it is paid. The profile and resource level are hypothetical. The calculation illustrates the rule. It does not predict your individual situation.

The application, step by step

1. The submission of the application. The department's services have 10 days to acknowledge receipt.
2. Home assessment. A professional from the medical-social team assesses the individual's GIR level and needs. For GIR levels 1 to 4, they propose a support plan.
3. Acceptance of the plan. You have 10 days to accept the proposed plan or request modifications.
4. The decision. The department makes a decision within 2 months of receiving a complete application.
5. The payment. The regular benefits portion is paid monthly. The first payment is made the month following the decision. The salary portion can be paid using pre-funded CESU vouchers.

To contest a decision, a mandatory preliminary administrative appeal must be filed with the department within two months of notification. An appeal to the judge must then be filed, also within two months.

What can stop or reduce APA

• A hospital stay of more than 30 days The payment of the APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) for home care may be suspended. It may also be suspended, among other cases, if the declaration of home care is not made within one month of the notification of the APA award.
• An overpayment It is repaid through monthly deductions of up to 20% of the allowance. Overpayments of €36.93 or less are not reclaimed.

Taxation and inheritance

The APA (Personalized Autonomy Allowance) is tax-exempt and may entitle the recipient to a tax credit. It is not subject to recovery, either during the person's lifetime or upon their death: it cannot be recovered from the estate, nor from a legatee, donee, or beneficiary of a assurance-vie contract.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your GIR, which sets the maximum amount.
• Your situation as a couple or as a single person, which changes the division of resources.
• The nature of your resources : income, investments, assets other than the main residence, uninvested capital.
• The proposed aid plan and the portion that you actually use.
• Other benefits already received, which may exclude the APA.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.