The simulation of CAF family allowances is based on a combination of variables that change each year: household income, number of dependent children, age of each child. Since the revaluation on April 1, 2026, the amounts calculated by the simulator have changed compared to those displayed a few months earlier. Understanding what the tool actually measures and the parameters that affect the result helps avoid a distorted estimate from the start.
Amounts of family allowances according to income brackets
The CAF simulator classifies each household into an income bracket, then applies a decreasing scale. The table below summarizes the calculation logic for families with two or three children, according to the current resource ceilings.
| Number of children | Income bracket | Indicative monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 children | Below the first ceiling | Full rate |
| 2 children | Between the first and second ceiling | Intermediate rate (about half of the full rate) |
| 2 children | Above the second ceiling | Minimum rate |
| 3 children | Below the first ceiling | Full rate (significantly higher than that for 2 children) |
| 3 children | Between the first and second ceiling | Intermediate rate |
| 3 children | Above the second ceiling | Minimum rate |
The resource ceilings increase with each additional child. A household with three children can therefore receive the full rate where a comparable household with two children would fall into the intermediate bracket. This mechanism is automatically reproduced by the simulator based on the declared net categorical income.
Launching a CAF family allowance simulation before any procedure provides a reliable estimate of the monthly amount, provided that the resources from the reference year (N-2) are entered and not those of the current year.
Age increase to 18 years: impact on the simulation in 2026
Until recently, family allowances benefited from an automatic increase when a child turned 14. Since March 1, 2026, this increase has been postponed from 14 to 18 years for new beneficiaries.
In practical terms, if your child turned 14 after this date, the simulator no longer adds the increase to your monthly estimate. However, families with a child who was already 14 before March 1, 2026, retain the benefit of the old increased scale.
This transitional rule creates a borderline case that the simulator does not always clearly indicate. Two families with children of the same age may obtain different results depending on when the child turned 14. If your simulation shows an amount lower than expected for a teenager, check if the age increase reform applies to your situation.
Check the reference date in the simulator
The simulator uses the birth date of each child to determine eligibility for the increase. Enter it accurately. A one-month error can shift the calculation on either side of the critical date of March 1, 2026.
Reference income and time lag: why your simulation seems off
The CAF simulator is based on the net categorical income of year N-2. For a simulation carried out in 2026, the income from 2024 is therefore used as the calculation basis. This time lag frequently generates discrepancies between the estimate and the reality perceived by families.
A household whose income decreased in 2025 (unemployment, part-time work, parental leave) may find itself in a too high bracket during the simulation. Conversely, a recent salary increase does not yet appear in the calculation.
- The income taken into account is that shown on the N-2 tax notice, not the current income of the household.
- In the event of a sudden change in situation (divorce, job loss), the CAF can carry out a flat-rate assessment based on the income of the last twelve months, but this procedure requires explicit reporting.
- The online simulator does not automatically trigger this flat-rate assessment: you must contact the CAF directly or carry out the procedure via your personal space.
Keeping this mechanism in mind helps avoid considering the simulation result as a guaranteed amount. It is an estimate based on fixed tax data.
Revaluation in April 2026 and reliability of the simulator
The general revaluation of family benefits on April 1, 2026 concerns family allowances, the back-to-school allowance, PAJE, and family supplements. The scales applied by the simulator have been updated to reflect these new amounts.
A simulation carried out before this date displays results calculated on the old scales. If you made an estimate in January or February 2026, the amounts obtained are now outdated. Restarting the simulation after April allows for a projection aligned with the current parameters.
Data to prepare before launching the simulator
To ensure that the estimate is as close as possible to your actual rights, gather these elements before starting:
- The latest tax notice of the household (income N-2), which serves as the basis for calculating resources.
- The exact number of dependent children and their precise birth dates, including those in shared custody.
- The current family situation (couple, single person, ongoing separation), as income ceilings differ according to the household configuration.
- Any alimony paid or received, which modifies the reference income taken into account by the simulator.
The CAF simulator remains an estimation tool, not a notification of rights. Only the benefit application submitted via the personal space triggers the actual opening of rights. A favorable simulation does not exempt you from this procedure, and the final amount paid may differ if the CAF detects a discrepancy between the declared information and that transmitted by the tax administration.