CAF benefits
APL or ALS: what's the difference?
Both benefits are paid by the CAF (the French family-allowance fund) and are often similar in amount. The difference comes down to the legal status of the home — not to you.
APL
Personalised housing benefit
APL-approved homes
Who is eligible?
Any student renting an APL-approved home (the landlord has signed an agreement with the State)
Estimated amount
€100–200/month depending on income, rent and household
Payment
Directly to the tenant (or the landlord, depending on the agreement)
Where to apply?
At caf.fr — under "Apply for a benefit"
ALS
Social housing allowance
Non-approved homes
Who is eligible?
Any student renting a non-approved home, subject to income
Estimated amount
€80–180/month depending on income, rent and household
Payment
Directly to the tenant, monthly by bank transfer
Where to apply?
At caf.fr — same form and process as APL
Step by step
How do I apply for housing benefit?
The whole process is done online at caf.fr as soon as you've signed your lease. Here are the steps.
1
Sign your tenancy agreement
You can only apply after signing the lease. You'll need your move-in date and the exact rent including charges.
2
Create your online CAF account
Go to caf.fr and create your personal account. You'll need your social-security number, a valid email address and your bank details (RIB).
3
Apply for the benefit
In your CAF account, click "Apply for a benefit". Enter your situation (student, tenant), the details of the home, and declare your income (your tax notice from two years ago, or a nil-income statement if you have none).
4
Attach the supporting documents
The CAF will ask for: your signed lease, your ID, your bank details (RIB), your latest tax notice (or a nil-income statement) and your proof of enrolment at your institution.
5
Wait for the decision and first payment
The CAF usually processes your application in 2 to 4 weeks. Once accepted, the benefit is paid from the month after you moved in. Payment is made on the 5th of each month.
6
The Begip team helps you
The Begip agency helps you put together your CAF application and gather the documents. Feel free to contact the agency by phone on +33 5 55 33 97 50 or by email at agence@begip.fr.
Beyond APL/ALS
Other benefits & schemes for students
APL and ALS aren't the only options. Other schemes can top up your housing budget.
Mobili-Jeune — Action Logement
A grant of €10–100/month for work-study students (apprenticeship or professionalisation contract) under 30. Can be combined with APL or ALS. Apply directly at actionlogement.fr.
Learn more →
Visale — Free student guarantor
Visale is a free guarantee from Action Logement that replaces a personal guarantor (parents, relatives). It covers unpaid rent and reassures landlords. Open to all students under 30.
Learn more →
CROUS grants — Housing support
CROUS grant holders receive extra support and can access reduced-rate CROUS university residences. Apply at messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr before 31 May for the following year.
Learn more →
LOCA-PASS advance
Action Logement
An interest-free loan to fund your security deposit (up to €1,200), repayable over 25 monthly instalments with no interest. Available to student employees or work-study students.
Learn more →
Local-authority support
The City of Limoges and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region occasionally offer specific student support: move-in grants, equipment vouchers, etc. Ask the Limoges CROUS or the city's student services.
Limoges CROUS →
Reduced agency fee — Begip
Begip charges a reduced student-only agency fee: just €130 for the whole move-in file, inventory included. A real saving that significantly lightens your moving-in budget.
Contact Begip →
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about housing benefit in Limoges
Answers to the questions students most often ask about APL, ALS and other benefits in Limoges.
For a studio rented at €380/month including charges in Limoges, APL or ALS can range from €100 to €180/month depending on your income and household. A student with no income of their own (attached to the parental tax household) will usually get between €130 and €175/month. Get an exact figure at caf.fr with your real data.
Yes! Since 2020, being attached to the parental tax household no longer stops a student from receiving APL or ALS. Your parents can claim you as a "dependant" and you can still receive your housing benefit directly into your bank account. Note: your parents will then lose the tax break linked to claiming you.
APL (or ALS) can be combined with some benefits: Mobili-Jeune (if you're a work-study student), a CROUS grant, and occasional local-authority support. However, you cannot combine APL and ALS: only one CAF benefit applies, depending on the type of home.
You should apply as soon as you move in, ideally within the first few weeks. The benefit is paid from the month after your application, so the longer you wait, the more monthly payments you lose. You can apply online 24/7 at caf.fr, including over the summer for a September start.
Yes. Depending on the home, you'll receive either APL (approved homes) or ALS (non-approved homes). Either way, you're entitled to a CAF benefit. The Begip team can tell you which one applies to each home at the viewing or when signing the lease.
Yes, the Visale guarantee is an excellent alternative to a personal guarantor. It's free, provided by Action Logement, and covers the landlord against unpaid rent. It's open to all students under 30, with no income condition. Apply before signing your lease at visale.fr.
A studio in Limoges eligible for APL / ALS?
Begip manages over 900 student homes in Limoges. Reduced €130 agency fee for students. The team helps you put together your CAF application.