The remuneration paid in ESAT does not function like a traditional salary. It consists of two distinct parts, funded by different sources, and its net amount depends on both the level set by the establishment and the rules for combining it with the AAH. In 2026, with the revaluation of the SMIC and the AAH, the amounts actually received have changed.
CAF Deduction on ESAT Remuneration: the Mechanism that Reduces Your AAH
Before discussing net amounts, it is important to understand how the CAF (or MSA) calculates the AAH of a worker in ESAT. The calculation is based on a specific deduction applied to the guaranteed remuneration, rather than a simple fixed ceiling.
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In practice, the CAF does not deduct the entire ESAT remuneration to calculate the AAH. It applies deduction rates by bracket, indexed to the gross hourly SMIC. Between 0.62 and 1.23 gross hourly SMIC, the deduction is 3.5%, meaning that 96.5% of this part of the remuneration is taken into account in the resources. Between 1.23 and 1.85 hourly SMIC, the deduction increases to 4% (96% taken into account).
This system has a direct consequence: the higher the ESAT remuneration, the lower the AAH, but not in a proportional manner. The deduction slightly mitigates the effect, without canceling it. Many workers and families discover this mechanism during the quarterly recalculation by the CAF, when the amount of the AAH decreases without apparent explanation.
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To view examples of ESAT salaries in 2026 based on different working hours, the numerical simulations allow for visualizing the real impact of these deductions on total net income.
Composition of Guaranteed Remuneration in ESAT in 2026
The guaranteed remuneration paid each month to a worker in ESAT is composed of two parts. The first is the direct part, paid by the establishment itself. The legal minimum for this part is set at 5% of the SMIC, but the average observed is around 9.6% of the SMIC. Some ESATs pay more depending on the activity and the economic results of the establishment.
The second part is the job assistance, funded by the State, which represents 50.7% of the SMIC. This assistance constitutes the bulk of the remuneration. The sum of the two parts gives the total guaranteed remuneration, which legally ranges between 55.7% and 110.7% of the SMIC.
In 2026, the gross monthly SMIC is set at €1,826.57. Therefore, the gross monthly guaranteed remuneration ranges from approximately €1,017 to €2,022 depending on skill level, productivity, and the choices of the ESAT. This wide range is explained by the leeway given to establishments on the direct part.
What Guaranteed Remuneration Does Not Cover
ESAT remuneration does not provide the same protections as a standard employment contract. No unemployment insurance, no retirement contributions to the general scheme on the total amount. The worker in ESAT falls under a specific status, referred to as “user of a medico-social establishment,” and not as an employee in the sense of the Labor Code.
ESAT and AAH Cumulative Ceilings: 2026 Amounts
The AAH was increased by 4.6% on April 1, 2026. This increase modifies the cumulative ceilings between ESAT remuneration and the allowance, which changes the net income actually received for a large number of workers.
The monthly cumulative ceilings (guaranteed remuneration + AAH) in 2026 are as follows:
- Single person: €1,867.02 maximum per month. If the total exceeds this threshold, the AAH is reduced accordingly.
- Couple: €2,427.12 maximum per month. The income of the spouse is included in the calculation of household resources.
- Couple with a child or dependent relative: €2,707.17 maximum per month. Each dependent person raises the ceiling.
These ceilings are calculated based on the gross monthly SMIC. When the ESAT remuneration is low (close to the minimum of 55.7% of the SMIC), the worker retains almost the full AAH. When it exceeds a certain threshold, the AAH gradually decreases until it is canceled.
Example for a Single Person
A worker in ESAT receiving a gross guaranteed remuneration of approximately €1,017 (the legal minimum) retains a significant portion of the AAH, as the total remains below the ceiling of €1,867.02. The total net monthly income, after deduction and CAF calculation, approaches this ceiling without exceeding it.
Conversely, a worker whose guaranteed remuneration reaches the upper bracket sees their AAH reduced, sometimes to just a few dozen euros. The actual net gain from an increase in ESAT remuneration is therefore always less than the gross amount of that increase, due to the scissors effect with the AAH.
Part-Time Work in ESAT: Effect on Monthly Net Salary
Working hours in ESAT vary according to the capacities and personalized project of each worker. The guaranteed remuneration is calculated pro-rata based on the time present. A part-time worker thus receives about half of the guaranteed remuneration of a full-time worker.
The effect on total income is not as drastic as it seems. By working less, the ESAT remuneration decreases, which reduces the resources taken into account by the CAF. The AAH increases accordingly to partially compensate for the loss. The total net income decreases less quickly than the ESAT remuneration alone.
This mechanism of interconnected vessels creates a situation where the income difference between full-time and part-time work in ESAT is often smaller than what the gross scales suggest. This is a point to consider when making decisions about orientation or changes in working hours.
The simultaneous revaluation of the SMIC and the AAH in 2026 did not alter this underlying logic. The system remains designed to maintain a minimum income, not to proportionally reward the increase in hours worked. For workers close to the cumulative ceilings, each additional euro of ESAT remuneration results in an almost equivalent reduction in the AAH.