Caisse d'allocations familiales (Caf)
Prestations versées à tort
The heading is the term used on the official page, not a quotation from the letter itself.
What it is
A letter saying the Caf paid more than it should have (trop perçu, indu) and is asking for the difference back.
What the rules provide
The rules provide for repayment in one go or in instalments, deducted from later payments.
Deadline
The deadline to respond is stated in the letter itself. The period the Caf can claim back is 2 years, or 5 years in case of fraud or false statements.
Usual steps
- Check the amount, the period and the proposed way of repaying in the letter.
- If you disagree, the usual first step is your Caf, then the médiateur Caf.
- Changes in the household must be reported to the Caf without waiting, even if impôts or the CPAM already know — the rules keep that duty, and it is what prevents new overpayments.
Where
Caf; rules — service-public.fr, F2269 and F20841.
How to tell it is genuine
Check your account, not the email: type caf.fr yourself and log in. Neither the sender's address, nor a logo, nor a link in the email proves anything.
Source: service-public.fr — F2269 (2026-06-27) · service-public.fr — F20841 (médiateur Caf) (2026-04-10) — checked 2026-10-15