RSA: new award criteria

The elected people have debated this afternoon on the new provisions to set the conditions to be entitled to the RSA in the territory of Saint-Martin. Because the cost of the RSA (more than 15 M€ per year) is extremely high and constitutes a "structural imbalance" that "threatens the economic development of the territory, the only factor for job creation", the Collectivité wishes to change the conditions of award of the RSA in its territory. Recognizing that the French side is very attractive in the Caribbean through benefits (various allowances including the RSA), the Collectivité wants "to address some of these factors of attractiveness by adapting the social action and family code." Which means: amending the conditions for being granted the RSA for foreign national. Is has therefore been proposed that "Foreign nationals would have to justify that they hold a valid residence permit allowing them to work in France for at least 10 years (against 5 years before)." It has also been proposed that only foreign nationals of a European Union Member State (or the EEC and Switzerland) could benefit from the RSA. This rule will apply to single people, parents, mothers and single fathers. In other words, if they are not European nationals, they will not be entitled to the RSA in Saint-Martin. This reform could be effective on 1st September.