French Socialist party primary winner Benoit Hamon is backing the Unconditional Basic Income idea.
The income plan he has outlined from the BBC would be put into effect in three stages.
First, the current minimum welfare payment for France's poorest would be increased by 10% to €600 (£515; $640) a month
The payments would then be extended to all those from 18-25 years’ old
Finally, the programme would be rolled out to all French citizens sometime after 2022, with the monthly payment increased to €750 a month.