(info from French consulate): If you work in France with your family, such an allowance is paid after the birth of a second child and until the child is 20 years old: http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Social-Security

Mainly for families with two children or more: http://www.caf.fr

State unemployment benefits:

students: Here is a VERY useful link for people approaching the end of their PhDs (or one day approaching the end of their PhDs). Unfortunately, it is only in French. It explains all the rights and possible complications of claiming these rights for unemployment benefits at the end of a PhD in France.

This MUST be read, ideally at least a month before the registration to an eventual 4th year of PhD (for those with contract prolongation) or before the PhD defense, if done within the official 3 years.

As you can read in the document, claiming these rights can be contingent on the social security contracts signed, and may be effectively impeded by taking on the “securite sociale etudiante” that some universities impose at the end of the PhD contract. Note that UVSQ is practicing this at the moment, and despite many of us strongly questioning this practice, so far it doesn't look like they will try to do anything about changing the rules. This has to change, and this document explains why: http://ancmsp.com/Chomage-et-fin-de-these-jeunes

postdocs: this link provides some information in general terms about some of the state support available following the end of a work contract in France, though is focused here on CDI (i.e. permanent), rather than temporary (CDD) contracts, that form the basis of most postdocs. However, unemployment payments are available following the termination of a CDD as well, providing the period employment has been for at least four months: http://www.thelocal.fr/20130724/top-tips-if-you-end-up-jobless-in-france

Specific information about unemployment allowance for those coming to the end of a CDD contract (sourced from Science Accueil newsletter, Nov 2014):

Legal information: Renewal of the “scientific” resident's permit at the end of a limited contract, and right for unemployment benefits.

The decree n° 2014-921 of August 18th, 2014 modifies some measures related to the right for staying and for working in France of certain categories of foreign nationals, in particular researchers. So, article R. 313-11 of the CESEDA is modified to allow foreigners staying in France under the cover of a residence card as “scientifique-researcher” (art. L.313-8) to apply for the renewal of their residence card in case of involuntary end of a contract, at the end of fixed term contract (“CDD”) for example.

To be able to benefit from this new measure, the foreign researcher in this situation wishing to stay in France after the end of his/her contract has to submit his file of request for the renewal of his/her resident' s permit, with the “certificat de travail” (job position certificate), the certificate of the employer intended for Pôle Emploi and the letter ending the work contract (if necessary) instead of the usual “convention d’accueil”. A one year long resident's permit will then be delivered. The researcher can join Pôle Emploi (employment agency) and benefit from unemployment benefits.

After one year of stay, if the foreign researcher has not obtained a new “convention d’accueil” he/she can still apply for another renewal of his/her resident's permit. The researcher will have then to provide the préfecture with a certificate of Pôle Emploi mentioning the duration of the remaining rights for unemployment benefits.

Those researchers with no new work contract who depend on Palaiseau sous-prefecture or Evry préfecture have to deposit their file the same way as researchers having “convention d’accueil”: with an appointment. The spouses of researcher can also make their request for the renew all of their resident's permits at the same time as the unemployed scientist. We remind you that Science Accueil along with referents in certain research and higher education establishments in Saclay area can obtain quick appointments for scientists and their spouses.