There was no formal system of social security in France before the Revolution. However, a number of institutions provided assistance to the poor, including the Church and the state.
Church Relief: The Church played a major role in providing relief to the poor. Monasteries and convents often ran hospitals and soup kitchens, and the Church also provided alms and other assistance to the needy.
State Assistance: The state also provided some assistance to the poor, particularly in the form of food subsidies. In times of famine, the government would often distribute grain to the poor at reduced prices, sometimes distributing bread free to the poorest. The state also established some hospitals and other institutions for the care of the sick and disabled.
Mutual Aid Societies: Mutual aid societies were a form of voluntary association that provided financial assistance to their members in times of need. These societies were often formed by workers or artisans, and they typically provided a small stipend to members during times of unemployment, sickness, or other hardships.
Poor Laws: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French state passed several poor laws that attempted to regulate the provision of assistance to the poor. These laws generally required parishes to provide assistance to their indigent residents, and they also established some workhouses and other institutions to house and care for the poor.
However, these social welfare measures were limited and uneven in their application, and many poor people were left to fend for themselves. As a result, poverty was a major problem in France under the Ancien Regime, and it was one of the factors that led to the Revolution in 1789.
After the Revolution, the new republican government established a more comprehensive system of social security. The Law of 1793 provided for the creation of a national welfare system that would provide assistance to all citizens in need. However, this system was never fully implemented.