Paris (AFP)

The government will reduce a benefit granted to people over 70 who use home help, said government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye on Monday.

"In the end, we want to refocus things so that the aid, when it exists, is aimed at the people who need it most," said Ndiaye, confirming information from Les Echos.

In concrete terms, the government, which is looking for ways to save tax cuts promised by Emmanuel Macron, intends to focus the total exemption from employer contributions, which automatically benefit people over 70 who employ a home help , on those in situations of dependency or handicap.

After the rise of the CSG and the under-indexation of pension pensions over € 2,000 compared to inflation, this is a new measure that will affect the purchasing power of pensioners.

But the government defends itself fiercely: "There is no anti-old policy that is led by this government," said the spokeswoman, recalling that other tax benefits remain applicable, such as credit tax or social exemption of 2 euros per hour worked.

According to Les Echos, this plan would save 310 million euros next year, and 360 million euros the following years.

This year, this aid set up in 1987 will cost nearly 1.8 billion euros.

Sollicité, Bercy did not wish to comment. These revelations come four days before the government's presentation of its draft budget law for 2020.

© 2019 AFP