Social assistance payments will be made two days in advance in April so as not to penalize beneficiaries who have to withdraw their money from banks, whose operation may be disrupted due to the coronavirus, we learned Thursday at the Ministry of Solidarity.
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Aid available "from Saturday April 4"
"Social assistance will be available on the beneficiaries' account from Saturday April 4," the cabinet of Secretary of State Christelle Dubos told AFP, confirming information from Le Figaro . According to the daily, this anticipation represents a cash advance of 5 billion euros for the state. Housing allowance, active solidarity income (RSA), disabled adult allowance (AAH), family allowances ... These benefits are usually paid by family allowance funds (CAF) on the 5th of the month, except when this day falls on a Sunday, as is the case in April, and this takes place on the 6th.
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Anticipate trips to bank branches
Advancing the payment aims, according to the government, to "ensure that everyone will be able to receive their aid in good time" by making it possible to anticipate "trips to bank branches to avoid long waits and difficulties in meeting the rules of social distance "taken to curb the spread of the virus. Indeed, some of the most financially fragile recipients have only a limited banking offer and must go to the counter to receive their aid.
Many go through La Banque Postale, which has a public mission of "banking accessibility". However, because of the coronavirus crisis, 1,600 post offices are currently open out of the 7,700 in the territory, according to figures communicated by the company. La Poste said at the end of the day to AFP to prepare "an exceptional device to be able to make social benefits accessible throughout the territory, despite the health crisis and by protecting the health of postal workers and customers".
In 2018, the Banque de France estimated that 3.4 million people were in financial fragile situations.
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