Public Services and Social Security
France operates a mutual
assistance version of social security with groups collectively
assisting each other. There are various mutual groups from the
regionally organised health insurance mutuelles that
provide for the 30% of health costs that the state doesn't
reimburse you to the various industry-organised groups that
provide for your retirement pension.
Education
Education is free from primary school up to
age 18 and is compulsory up to age 16. The school year runs from
September to June with short midterm breaks usually in late
October and late February, longer breaks of around three weeks
for Christmas, two weeks at Easter, and the months of July and
August.
Local schools come in private and public
versions, single-sex and mixed (co-educational). The levels are:
- maternale, age 2 or 3 to 6;
- primaire, age 6 to 11;
- college, age 12 to 16; and
- lycée, age 17 to 18.
The lycées tend to specialise eg in
agriculture, sciences, etc.
Children attending school require insurance
(assurance) to cover them on school trips which can be
obtained through the school or directly from an insurance company.
In theory, they also need proof that they have been vaccinated
but this isn't always asked for.
Children have no problem picking up a new language up to
about age 11 or 12 (ie through to the end of primary school). Beyond that and
they generally need to be taught a new language which is worth bearing in mind
if you're bringing kids. Also, we have found that the French school system is
simply not geared up to taking non-French speaking children after age 16; so
much so that it was, for us, impossible to get any education for the kids 16 and
over.
Health
The state pays for 70% of healthcare costs
in most cases with the remaining 30% being met through the mutuelles
which people contribute money to in order to cover the 30%
shortfall.
To gain access to the health system you
need to apply at the Caisse appropriate to your
occupation:
- if you are self-employed, you have a
choice of about 20 different organisations;
- if you are working in agriculture, you
apply to ?????; or
- if none of the above apply, you apply
to the local Caisse Primaire Assurance Medicale (CPAM)
When applying, you will require proof of
residence, birth certificates for yourself and your family, your
marriage certificate (if you're married) and proof that you've
paid into the social security system in another European country
if you're not currently working in France.
Social Security payments
This section needs a lot of filling
out!
To get into the social security system you
need an Allocataire Number which you get at CAF.
They will require proof of address, proof that each of your
children are going to school (you get a Certificate de
Scholarité from the school) and passport.
Personal Taxation
This section needs filled out!
Income tax
A value added tax system (TVA) is applied
to almost all goods. The tax is included in the prices quoted in
shops etc. (not so if the shop in question would normally sale to
businesses).
Inheritance law and the related tax are a
big issue in France. In general terms, your children are as of
right entitled to a proportion of your estate varying from 50% (if
you have one child) up to 75% if you have several, irrespective
of what your will says. Their entitlement is to your "non-moveable"
estate (essentially your house) and as a result of this, most
French people convert their "non-moveable" house into a
moveable asset by owning it via a company created specifically
for this purpose (called an SCI); this relatively simple
measure allows you to distribute your assets as specified in your
will. You definitely need professional advice in this area!
|