Doctor’s consultations, gas prices, Christmas bonus… Here’s what changes from December 1st

Friday 29th November 2024 12:03 AM

It has become a ritual awaited by many. The Christmas bonus, intended to support beneficiaries of minimum social benefits, will be paid this year to more than 2 million French people. See you in your bank accounts December 17, 2024, for an amount identical to that of last year. Why no adjustment? Paul Christophe, Minister of Solidarity, recalled in the columns of “Ouest-France”: “The bonus has never been indexed to inflation. »

The detail? 152.45 euros for a single person, 228.67 euros for a couple without children, and up to 442.10 euros for a family with four children. Welcome help during the holiday season, managed by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) and the Mutuelle sociale agricole (MSA).

The price of gas is rising again

Bad news on the energy front: gas prices are increasing for a sixth time this year. In December, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) forecasts an average increase of 2.5% on the benchmark price. For households, this means a cost of 0.14 euro/kWh for cooking and hot water, and 0.11 euro/kWh for heating.

The geopolitical context remains heavy, between the war in Ukraine and the arrival of the heating season. These factors fuel instability in the markets, which has direct repercussions on the bills of the French.

Medical consultations: rising prices

From December 22, consulting a general practitioner will now cost 30 euros, compared to 26.50 euros today. For children under 6 years old, the price rises to 35 euros, instead of 31.50 euros. A development that also extends to specialists:

Gynecologist: from 33.50 euros to 37 euros
Pediatrician: up to 39 euros for children under two years old
Psychiatrist and neurologist: 55 euros compared to 51.70 euros currently
Melanoma screening at the dermatologist: 54 euros instead of 47.50 euros

These increases, the result of an agreement between private doctors and Health Insurance last June, will not stop there. Further adjustments are already planned for summer 2025.

Salary increase in the hotel and catering industry

As of 1^is December 2024, employees in the hotel and catering sector will benefit from a salary increase. A decree of November 5, 2024, published in the Official Journal on November 9, ratified a new salary scale for these professions. From now on, the conventional minimum wage is set at 12 euros gross per hour, slightly above the minimum wage, established at 11.88 euros since 1^is November 2024.

This revaluation is part of a desire to improve working conditions and attract more professionals in a sector facing recruitment challenges. All levels of the salary scale have been revised, thus offering prospects for salary advancement for employees based on their experience and qualifications.

Parcoursup opens its doors

High school students and future students will be able to discover the 23,000 training courses available on the Parcoursup platform from December 18, 2024. Registration and the formulation of wishes will follow, between January 15 and March 13, 2025. A key moment for thousands of families . The calendar here.

The Pinel system bows out

After ten years of good and loyal service, the Pinel system, which allowed real estate investors to benefit from conditional tax advantages, disappears on December 31, 2024. A page is turning for this tax loophole deemed costly for public finances.

Île-de-France: end of assistance for the purchase of electric cars

This is the end of a boost for the Ile-de-France residents. From 1^is December 2024, the Île-de-France region will end its assistance for the purchase of electric vehicles. This subsidy, which could reach up to 9,000 euros depending on the household’s income and tax shares, concerned new vehicles costing less than 47,000 euros. To benefit from it, you had to reside in departments such as Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne or Val-d’Oise, and above all, have placed an order before 1^is December 2024. A page is turning for this aid, in a context of ever more demanding energy transition.

Income tax return: the countdown is on

For those who need to adjust their 2023 income tax return, the online correction service closes its doors on December 4, 2024. A valuable opportunity to correct errors or oversights before the tax administration completes the financial year. Since July 31, this service has enabled many taxpayers to ensure that their returns correctly reflect their situation. After this date, any modification must be made through an official complaint, a process that is often longer and more complex.

Property and housing taxes: final stretch

Tax deadlines are also approaching for homeowners. December 15, 2024 marks the limit for paying your monthly property tax or that linked to a secondary residence, with effect from January 2025. For latecomers, a final deadline until December 31 is planned, but be careful: the deductions will not then begin until ‘in February. As for the payment of housing tax on second homes, December 16 remains the deadline for traditional payments, with an extension until December 21 for online payments. Don’t let the tax authorities interfere in your new year’s resolutions!