Fact sheet: The french social security system
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Date of update
Social Security is the public health insurance system that covers all life risks.
Employees and their families are fully eligible for France’s comprehensive social security system, which includes:
- Health, maternity, paternity, disability and death insurance.
- Occupational accident and illness insurance.
- Government pension contributions.
- Family allowances.
- Unemployment benefits.
3 minutes to understand the French Social Security system, an official video from Sécurité sociale
All foreign citizens, whether or not they are an employee, can continue to contribute voluntarily to their home country’s social security system.
| Helpful tip:Salaries and bonuses (benefits in kind, expatriation bonuses, etc.) paid to foreign employees registered under the General Social Security System are subject to all the social security contributions payable to France’s mandatory and supplementary insurance funds at the rates in force.
Use the calculator provided by the URSSAF to find out what social security contributions you will be required to pay |
Contact points
The French social security system is divided into 5 branches:
- the sickness, maternity, paternity, disability and death branch, managed by the French National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM);
- the occupational accidents and diseases branch, managed by the French National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM);
- the old-age branch, managed by the French National Old-Age Insurance Fund (CNAV);
- the family branch, managed by the French National Family Allowance Fund (CNAF);
- the contributions and collection branch, managed by the Central Agency of Social Security Bodies (ACOSS) which encompasses the Social Security and Family Allowance Collection Unions (URSSAF) responsible for collecting all employer dues and contributions.
In the overseas departments and regions (Guadeloupe, Guyane, Réunion et Martinique)
The General Social Security Funds (Caisses Générales de Sécurité Sociale – CGSS) are responsible for managing those risks and actions in mainland France that fall under the responsibility of separate organisations in the areas of illness, maternity, disability, old age, death, widowhood and occupational risks.
View your CGSS and its responsibilities
In Mayotte
The Mayotte Social Security Fund (CSSM) is the single social security body responsible for all five branches of the social security system, under the supervision of the 4 National Funds (CNAM, CNAV, CNAF and ACOSS).
Visit the CSSM website