Vaccines, RSA, plastic in the canteen, clearing of brush: the new obligations and laws which will come into force on January 1

Increase in gas prices, change in the rules for granting unemployment benefits and RSA, new compulsory vaccines or even changes in the area of ​​housing: here is what will change on January 1, 2025.

As every January 1, several changes to the legislation will come into force. From the field of health, to housing, including social assistance, meal vouchers, unemployment insurance and even environmental protection, a quick overview of what you need to know for this January 1 2025.

You might as well get rid of bad news straight away that could directly hit your wallet. Starting with the end of the temporary measure which allowed the use of tickets-restaurant to pay for all your food shopping in supermarkets. From January 1, the daily limit for these meal vouchers increases to 19 euros, and they can only be used in supermarkets to pay for directly consumable products. The Senate should, however, resume the legislative process of extending the temporary measure from January 15.

Gas prices will increase: +2.33% for consumers using gas for domestic hot water or cooking water, and +3.8% for heating. The price of a kWh of gas will therefore increase, respectively, to €0.14648 and €0.118.

The price of the stamp will also increase: parcels and mail will cost 6.8% more on average, and the price of the green letter will increase from €1.29 to €1.39. The cost of a registered letter will also increase again: this sending, for a 20g envelope, will now cost €5.74.

Finally, SNCF will no longer accept paper holiday checks to pay for train tickets. If your company or your CSE still provides you with these tickets in paper version, to buy train tickets, you will need to convert them into digital version. A somewhat painful operation, which systematically costs €10 in “exchange fees”. You must create an account and verify your identity on the ANCV website, then make a request and send the checks to be exchanged by post. The operation can take several weeks.

Finally, we end this chapter on fees of all kinds with the interest rate for new PEL which will be 1.75% for those opened after January 1, 2025. For PELs opened in 2024, it was 2.25%.

The daily caregiver allowance (AJPA)which allows you to receive income in the event of a reduction or temporary cessation of your activity to help a loved one in a dependent situation, can now be received several times during a lifetime.

Until now, this aid of €64.54 per day and €32.27 per half-day could only be received over a maximum of 66 days, split into half-days, for the help of one person. From now on, it will be possible to submit a new application, if you have to accompany another loved one. A caregiver can request up to four times, for a total of 264 days.

Retirement pensions will benefit from a mechanical increase, depending on INSEE's assessment of inflation, of 2.2% in January. This increase will be reflected in January pensions, paid at the beginning of February.

As of January 1, 2025, beneficiaries of the RSA will be automatically registered with France Travail, where they will have to complete a questionnaire in order to assess their situation: they will then have to carry out 15 to 20 hours of activity or training per week.

Concretely, following this questionnaire, an organization (France Travail, the Departmental Council or an organization designated by the latter) should contact them to establish a “personalized project for access to employment” or a reciprocal engagement contract. . People affected by a recognized disability, a health problem, and single parents of children under 12 years old without childcare solutions may be exempt.

Regarding the unemployment benefits, their allocation rules are changing: for seasonal workers, it will now take 5 months of work over the last 24 to qualify for unemployment (compared to 6 months currently). On the other hand, the levels for benefiting from 22.5 months and 27 months of compensation will change: from 53 to 55 years and 55 to 57 years respectively.

The “My psychological support” systemwhich allows you to be reimbursed for 12 consultations with an approved psychologist, will be simplified from January 1. It will no longer be necessary to be referred by a general practitioner to benefit from it.

Two new vaccines will be compulsory for infants born from January 1, 2025: the first against meningococci B, and the second against meningococci ACWY (which covers four different types of meningitis). The type B meningococcal vaccine was already recommended (and therefore reimbursed), it requires three injections at 3, 5 and 12 months. The second will actually replace the meningococcal C vaccine, which was already compulsory, and will be done at the same times (at 6 and 12 months). The latter will therefore not require additional injections.

The health record will also change. Newborns will receive a version where prevention advice has been added: on raising your child without violence, on sleep, on identifying neurodevelopmental disorders and on the use of screens. Advice on adolescent health prevention will also be present.

…Or almost. In schools, nurseries and specific medical establishments in municipalities with more than 2,000 inhabitants, school restaurants must no longer use plastic for cooking, reheating and serving.

It had been announced for several years: the part of the “Climate and resilience” law which prohibits housing classified G in the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) from being rentedwill come into force. Indeed, housing classified G will no longer be considered decent.

From 2028, it will be housing classified F, then from 2034 housing classified E, which will be affected by this law.

Finally, owners of real estate located near forest areas classified as “at fire risk” will now be required to inform new buyers and tenants of theobligation to clear brush their land.

Concretely, constructions located inside or less than 200 meters from one of these forest areas, heaths, maquis or scrubland classified as risky, must be protected from fires. Owners and tenants are obliged to clear at least 50 meters around their building, including if this area extends into their neighbor's area.