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The law of December 28, 2015 on adapting society to the aging of the population allows the French maisons départementales de personnes handicapées (MDPH, departmental homes for the disabled) to be relabeled maisons départementales de l’autonomie (MDA, departmental homes for autonomy). This updated label certifies the combination of services for the disabled and services for the elderly. Prior to the law, some French departments were already in the process of transforming MDPH into MDA. These mutualizations are justified by the economies of scale following the withdrawal of the state. These cost savings also strengthen the welfare departments, which manage more MDPH and benefit from their local presence. Their role becomes vital, especially when the state is withdrawing from the social assistance sector. Its intervention through such labelling is thus posterior and symbolic.