The new year brings its share of changes. Between restaurant vouchers, new health records and tobacco prices, Le Figaro helps you see things more clearly.
The fateful date of January 1st is fast approaching… and with it comes a lot of annual changes. Between revaluation of retirement pensions, unification of RATP prices and new obligations for RSA beneficiaries, announcements have multiplied in recent weeks. But then, what changes await you for the new year? Le Figaro takes stock.
New obligations for RSA beneficiaries
RSA beneficiaries will face new obligations from January 1. In fact, they will have to automatically register with France Travail as soon as they request their benefit. They will need to complete a questionnaire on the France Travail website in order to be redirected to their referring organization, with which they will sign an employment contract. Through this contract, the RSA beneficiary undertakes to carry out 15 to 20 hours of activities per week, including interviews, internships and even training. Beneficiaries already registered will be able to keep their usual advisor. Note that “these 15 hours are not a condition for the granting of an allowance, it is an element within the engagement contract co-constructed between the person and the referring organization”reassures France Travail and the Ministries of Labor and Solidarity.
A revaluation of retirement pensions
On January 1, retirement pensions will be increased by 2.2%, i.e. in line with inflation. A relief for retirees who, if Michel Barnier's PLF had been adopted, would have only seen their pension increase by 0.8%. And again, after amendment of the project: the Prime Minister initially planned to also postpone the revaluation until July 1, to free up some 4 billion euros. Concretely, this increase of 2.2% represents an increase of 18 euros for the average pension of 814 euros gross monthly.
The end of meal vouchers in supermarkets
Bad news for employees: from January 1, you will no longer be able to purchase products in supermarkets that are not directly consumable with your meal vouchers. No more butter, flour, pasta or wine, for example. Only sandwiches, fruit and ready meals – considered lunches and not groceries – can be purchased in supermarkets. Michel Barnier's PLF planned to extend the current regime until the end of 2026, but censorship came through. In addition, the daily usable amount will also drop from 25 to 19 euros.
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Reduction in aid for energy recovery and increase in VAT on boilers
Bad news for those who were planning to improve the insulation of their homes. Reductions are in fact to be expected for the energy renovation aid system. Thus, for households with resources « very modest”the maximum level of advances issued will fall from 70% to 50% as part of the energy transition bonus per gesture. Households with higher incomes wishing to engage in a “Accompanied Journey”that is to say in large-scale renovations, will also receive less money: the aid paid will drop from 30% to 10% for projects allowing a gain of two classes in the DPE, from 35% to 15 % for projects allowing a gain of three classes and from 35% to 20% for projects allowing a gain of four classes or more. Finally, according to a decree published at the beginning of December by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the VAT applied to gas condensing boilers will increase from 5.5% to 10% from January 1.
New health record and compulsory vaccinations for children
Following recommendations from the High Authority for Health, new vaccines will now be compulsory for infants. They must in fact be vaccinated against meningococcal infections ACWY and B. Note that the vaccine against meningococcal ACWY replaces that against meningococcal C, formerly compulsory. A new health record for children also comes into force from 1is January. This notebook contains several new pieces of information, such as the Apgar score ten minutes after birth, which makes it possible to assess the five main vital functions or even risk factors for vision disorders and benchmarks for detecting neurological disorders. .
Tobacco, metro tickets… new price increases
Smokers still hit their wallets. Indeed, cigarettes, cigars and other hand-rolling tobacco will see their prices rise again at the start of the year. The pack of cigarettes will thus pass the symbolic mark of 12.50 euros on average, with a sharp increase for Malboro (13 euros now), Vogue (12.50 euros) and Lucky Strike (12.50 euros). Another increase: the metro ticket in intra-muros Paris, which will increase from 2.15 euros to 2.50 euros each. This increase is explained by the standardization of transport prices in Île-de-France, which will be at a single price of 2.50 euros for the train, metro and RER from January 1. On the other hand, the cost of the ticket will become less expensive for those who live outside Paris thanks to this price smoothing. The annual Navigo subscription will increase from 86.40 to 88.80 euros per month.
The reinforced transport premium
This is the last minute boost announced Friday by the government. Aid linked to home-work transport in 2025 will be strengthened, via an increase in the ceiling for exemption from fuel and public transport premiums. The tax exemption ceiling for the fuel premium will thus be increased to 300 euros per year instead of 200 euros from January 1. As for the electric vehicle charging premium, its exemption ceiling will be increased by 100 euros, to reach 600 euros per year. Finally, the tax exemption ceiling for the combined sustainable mobility package and public transport subscription also increases by 100 euros to go from 800 to 900 euros.
