Maternity leave, partner's leave and money in France
Three separate things arrive from three separate places: the Assurance Maladie pays you during maternity leave, your employer handles the partner's leave, and the CAF pays the birth grant and the childcare supplement. They have different rules, different deadlines and different offices, and nobody joins them up for you. Checked 22 September 2026.
Arrange your maternity leave (congé maternité)
For a first baby the legal maternity leave is 16 weeks: 6 before the due date and 10 after. You can move up to 3 weeks of the prenatal part to after the birth, but only on medical advice — it is not simply your choice. Checked against ameli.fr on 21 September 2026.
Applies to people who are employed (salarié). Paperbump schedules this usually between week 28 and week 32 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · ameli.fr
Birth grant (prime à la naissance)
A one-off CAF payment made during the seventh month of pregnancy, meant for the first costs of the baby. It is means-tested on your household income from two years earlier, and it arrives automatically if the pregnancy was declared in time and you have a CAF account — there is no separate form for the grant itself, only the PAJE request. Checked against caf.fr on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 26 and week 28 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · caf.fr
Partner's leave (congé paternité et d'accueil de l'enfant)
Three days of birth leave from the employer, then 25 calendar days of paternity leave — 28 in all for a single birth, and more for multiples. The first part is compulsory: the three days of birth leave, plus four calendar days of paternity leave straight after them. Checked against economie.gouv.fr on 21 September 2026.
Applies to people who have a partner going through it with them and are employed (salarié). Paperbump schedules this within 6 months of the birth. What this step involves · economie.gouv.fr
Supplementary birth leave (congé supplémentaire de naissance)
A right that only came in on 1 July 2026, so most guides — and plenty of employers — have not caught up. Each parent, separately, can take one or two months on top of the maternity and paternity leave, in one block or split up. Checked against ameli.fr on 21 September 2026.
Applies to people who are employed (salarié). Paperbump schedules this within 9 months of the birth. What this step involves · ameli.fr
Claim help with childcare costs (CMG)
The complément de libre choix du mode de garde is the CAF's contribution to what childcare costs you, whether that is an assistante maternelle, a micro-crèche or care at home. What you get depends on your income, the number of children and the type of care. Checked against caf.fr on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this between 4 weeks and 6 months after the birth. What this step involves · caf.fr
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