The age 60 barrier in French long-term care schemes: the effects on home care utilization by disabled and dependent individuals[La barrière des 60 ans dans les dispositifs de compensation des incapacités : quels effets sur les aides reçues à domicile par les populations handicapée et dépendante ?]

In France, long-term care policies are organized into two distinct fields. Disability schemes are offered to individuals whose disabilities were recognized before age 60, while so-called ‘elderly' may access dependence schemes. Although the ‘age 60 barrier' is debated, there is little empirical evidence about how it affects the way activity restrictions are being compensated for. This article makes use of the economists' concepts and tools to inform the debate. Firstly, it shows how the concept of disability compensation may be understood, and why the age 60 barrier may seem arbitrary within this framework. Secondly, we assess the effects of the institutional discontinuity on home care utilization by community-dwelling individuals with activity restrictions. We use the Disability and Health Survey on Households [Handicap-Santé Ménages] (2008) to document the disabilities, benefits and home care services received on both sides of the age 60 barrier. For given socio-demographic characteristics and family structure, the probability of benefitting from an allowance and receiving formal home care appears to be higher for individuals aged 60 and over.