CAF benefits and moving to Morocco: a woman has been ordered to repay more than €26,500 after continuing to receive French social benefits. Although she has been living in Morocco with her three children since June 2022, she repeatedly declared that she was still resident in France. The Judicial Court of Bordeaux has confirmed the fraud classification and the penalties imposed by the CAF de la Gironde.
She leaves France to settle in Morocco
The case began on 20 June 2022, when the beneficiary left France with her three children to settle permanently in Morocco.
However, she did not report this change of residence to the CAF de la Gironde. The agency therefore continued to pay her several benefits.
The case concerns in particular family allowances, family supplement, basic allowance, the shared child‑rearing benefit, back‑to‑school allowance and personalised housing benefit.
CAF claims €22,732 in overpaid benefits
A check carried out by an authorised officer eventually established that the family was in fact living in Morocco.
On 5 June 2024, CAF demanded that the beneficiary repay €22,732.20 in benefits wrongly paid.
The woman did not dispute that she had to repay the overpaid benefits. However, she challenged the additional penalties linked to the fraud classification.
Three declarations weigh heavily in the ruling
In her defence, the woman claimed she had no intention of misleading CAF. She said she had informed the tax authorities of her move abroad and thought that the other administrations would automatically receive this information.
She also pointed to her cooperation during the inspection and to the steps she had taken to repay her debt.
The court did not accept these arguments.
The judges noted in particular that the beneficiary had confirmed three times that she was still living in Villenave-d’Ornon. She did so on 4 July 2022, 30 November 2022 and 30 December 2023. On each of these occasions, she also stated that her three children were enrolled in school in France.
Court finds an intention to provide inaccurate information
For the Judicial Court of Bordeaux, these three successive declarations cannot be regarded as a simple omission.
The judges considered that they showed a deliberate intention to give CAF information that the beneficiary knew was inaccurate. They therefore held that the conditions for imposing a penalty for fraudulent conduct had been met.
The court thus confirmed the €1,500 administrative penalty.
It also upheld a surcharge corresponding to 10% of the benefits wrongly paid, that is €2,273.22.
Final bill reaches €26,505.42
The court’s decision brings the total amount owed to €26,505.42.
The calculation is as follows:
- €22,732.20 in benefits unduly received;
- €1,500 in administrative penalty;
- €2,273.22 in a 10% surcharge.
The beneficiary must also pay the legal costs of the proceedings. The judgment, handed down on 31 August 2026, is immediately enforceable.
This case is a reminder that any long-term departure from France must be reported to the relevant agencies. Declaring a move to one administration does not mean that all other institutions automatically receive the information.
External sources:
Don’t miss out on the latest news from the diaspora!
Sign up for our next newsletter to receive our practical guides, advice (on procedures and investment) and the latest news for French nationals living abroad, delivered straight to your inbox.
