Insee Focus · January 2024 · n° 319

Children and grandchildren, the main beneficiaries of financial solidarity between households

In 2017, half of all households provided financial assistance to another household in the last two months, either by transferring money or by covering some of their expenses. This inter-household help was mainly given within families (93% of cash transfers), and more particularly from ascendants to descendants.

Retired people, as well as 50 to 64 year old working people, declared paying out more aid than what they received; therefore they activated a redistribution to other categories of household. Modest households, especially students and young working people, received the most help from family and friends.