After sparking heated debate, the revision of the method of calculating the allowance for disabled adults (AAH) was finally adopted last December by decree. This change will take place from next fall: October 1, 2023. Today to determine the amount of the AAH, the resources of the spouse are taken into account.
From now on, the calculation of this aid intended for disabled people, the maximum amount of which is 971.37 euros per month, will be made solely according to their own resources. As Capital’s article on the subject details: it’s called demaritalization. Many associations indeed regretted that people with disabilities were deprived of this allowance, solely because their spouse had income exceeding the ceilings to receive the AAH (21,098.16 euros per year).
From 1 October 2023, the allowance for disabled adults will be calculated on an individual basis without taking into account the income of the spouse. With the law adopted on August 16, 2022, deconjugalization will allow people with disabilities to gain financial independence and benefit from higher aid. Thus, 120,000 disabled people in couples should see their AAH increase by 350 euros per month on average, indicates the site: administrative procedures. The revision nevertheless divided a lot in Parliament and within the majority, before being adopted. The government, the LREM and Modem groups were indeed the first to oppose the individualization of allowances: with the fear of a spread of deconjugalization to other social benefits, such as the minimum old age, the RSA and d ‘others. And considered this measure unfair because benefiting people with disabilities regardless of income, to the chagrin of associations, said Franceinfo.
This division has also led, in 2021, to “a blocking of the vote” of the communist group in the National Assembly by the government at first. The group was precisely asking to no longer take into account the income of the beneficiary’s spouse. After the announcement of the blocked vote, relayed the info.re site, several right-wing and left-wing deputies, indignant, decided to leave the hemicycle. Sophie Cluzel, Secretary of State for People with Disabilities, said: “This is a very serious attack on parliamentary democracy and I am ashamed for you”. Two years later the revised text was finally adopted.
However, the government has provided for a transitional mechanism to prevent this reform from penalizing certain beneficiaries. For those who already benefit from the device, the change of calculation mode will be made only if it brings them more advantages. On the other hand, the allowance will be automatically deconjugalized for the new beneficiaries. Created in 1975, the AAH, is intended to compensate for the inability to work. A maximum amount of 956.65 euros per month is paid according to medical and social criteria. Currently, more than 1.2 million people benefit from this system, including 270,000 couples. The annual expenditure is estimated at around 11 billion euros.
