France to Use Airline Data to Combat Social Benefit Fraud

The French government plans to use the PNR (Passenger Name Record) files of airlines to detect cheaters living abroad. It is a question of tracking down beneficiaries who reside abroad most of the time, by verifying their dates of presence on the national territory. "Today, the Social Security Funds can already verify a certain number of things: electricity bills, bank transactions. I would like us to expand," explained Gabriel Attal, Minister of Public Accounts, to BFMTV.

His wish, he will say, is that "the Social Security Funds who have doubts about whether a person has actually resided on French soil can access the passenger files of the airlines to see when a person has taken a plane to France." The official assures that it is not a question of "spying" on the beneficiaries. "When you receive funds from national solidarity, you must be entitled to receive them," he justifies. As of July 1, 2023, the payment of benefits to non-European bank accounts will no longer be authorized.

The government also plans to increase from six to nine months the annual duration of residence in France to receive the minimum old-age pension and to harmonize this duration for all social benefits. "Today, to receive the minimum old-age pension or family allowances, you have to spend six months in France, to receive the APL (personalized housing assistance, editor’s note) you have to spend eight months in France, to receive the RSA (active solidarity income), you have to spend nine months in France. I am in favor of harmonizing everything at nine months," said Gabriel Attal.