French prime minister proposes waiting period for foreign claimants of social benefits

As part of the draft budget presented to parliament, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a plan to impose a waiting period on foreign nationals before they can claim non-contributory social benefits. The "délai de carence" would apply to allocations like the RSA top-up, APL housing aid, CAF family benefits and senior assistance, though the exact duration was not disclosed. Unemployment benefits and the right to register for state health insurance remain unaffected, with the latter already requiring three months of legal residence.

Critics from the left and NGOs, notably Pascal Brice of the Fédération des acteurs de la solidarité, denounced the move as a political tactic that blames immigrants for France’s fiscal challenges. Lecornu framed the policy as a common-sense safeguard rather than an austerity measure. The proposal will face intense debate in a fragmented parliament before any final adoption.