Understanding the rules on ASPA

As you know, the allocation de solidarité pour les personnes âgées, ASPA, is managed by Saspa for those applicants who have not built up French pension rights through work in France. This is

a branch of public finance body the Caisse des Dépôts. When a claimant dies, Aspa paid out may be reclaimable by Saspa if the actif net successoral (value of the estate net of tax) is more

than €39,000.

The response which then head of Saspa Jacques Taffin gave Connexion on this issue two years ago may further clarify the approach that has usually been taken. He said when an estate is valued

after a person's death the value of a main home is not included for purposes of assessing an ASPA repayment while a surviving spouse lives there. If the spouse sells to move to another

house this exoneration will continue, he said. However, if the survivor sells up definitively, to move to a retirement home or stay with a relative, repayment is likely to be due. "Our

intention is not to put the spouse out into the street," Mr Taffin said.

I HAVE lived, worked and paid tax in France for 25 years and will retire, aged 65, next year. My small French pension will be all I will have to live on. I have heard that to be eligible for

a full ASPA top-up you must not have more than €39,000 inheritance. I am half-owner of a £300,000 UK home, which I will own outright when my father dies. What is likely to be deducted from

my top-up? V.B.

You have misunderstood the relevance of the €39,000 which relates to the possibility for the state to claim back ASPA paid out to you after you die. Entitlement to ASPA is based on income

level (such as pensions), which may, if you are entitled to it, be topped up to a current maximum €742.27 a month for a single person (€1,181.77 for a couple).

However 3% of the sale value of capital possessions, not including main home, is usually taken into account (as well as direct forms of income like pensions), on the basis that these –

whether shares, investment property etc – usually provide some sort of income as well.

You are meant to keep the authorities informed of changes in circumstances, so inheriting full ownership of the UK home would definitely be relevant and almost certainly take you out of ASPA

entitlement.