Declaring the Death of a Spouse/Partner

The death of a spouse or partner radically changes your family status with CAF, requiring recalculation of all benefits, and may open the right to additional temporary benefits. This change must be declared as soon as possible.

This page explains how to make this declaration, what information to provide, and offers a ready-to-use letter template, plus a tool to automatically generate your personalized letter.

When should you write this letter?

• Your spouse or partner recently passed away;
• You want to know the impact of this change on your benefits;
• You need to recalculate housing benefit based on your new situation;
• You have dependent children whose status needs clarification;
• You need temporary financial support during this difficult period.

In all these cases, a written letter remains a reliable way to resolve your situation during this sensitive period.

Required information to include

• Your first and last name and beneficiary number;
• The date of death;
• Your new family situation and number of dependent children;
• Your new income if changed;
• The list of documents attached (death certificate).

We extend our condolences, and hope this page eases your administrative procedures during this difficult time.

Official letter template

Important note: the letter sent to CAF must be written in French, as it is a French administration. Below is a template you can use as a basis.

[First name LAST NAME]
[Full address]
[Beneficiary number]

CAF of [Department]
[CAF address]

Written in [City], on [Date]

Subject: Declaration of my spouse's death

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am informing you of the death of my spouse [name], which occurred on [date].

[...]

→ The complete letter, tailored precisely to your situation and ready to send, is generated automatically in 3 minutes using the tool above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a special benefit after the death of a spouse?

Yes, temporary support benefits may open depending on your situation and that of dependent children.

When is housing benefit recalculated?

Usually starting the month following the death declaration.

Do I need to attach the death certificate?

Yes, this is an essential document for updating your file with CAF.

Can I continue receiving benefits in my deceased spouse's name?

No, the file must be updated in your name directly to avoid any interruption or administrative problem.

Who can help me with this procedure?

A social worker or CAF advisor can accompany you through these difficult steps.