Several changes take place on August 1 and will have a direct impact on household budgets, with higher gas and electricity prices in mind. For the many savers who took advantage of it during the coronavirus crisis, the pay rate of the livret A should remain stuck at 0.5%. Conversely, some will be able to receive a refund of taxes or receive the back-to-school bonus.
A step backwards on unemployment insurance. During the social conference in mid-July, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the postponement of the application of the unemployment insurance reform which toughened the compensation rules at the beginning of "next year".
Concretely, it is a return to square one, that is to say to the rules before November 1, 2019, but only for people who lost their job between August 1 and December 31, 2020. This therefore does not concern people who lost their jobs between November 2019 and August 2020, that is to say during the period of confinement, in particular temporary workers and fixed-term contracts.
Since November 1, you had to have worked at least six months out of the last 24 to open rights, instead of four months out of the last 28. But this return every four months will be calculated over the last 24 months and not 28. In other words, you must have worked 610 hours or 88 days over 28 months to be eligible.
VIDEO. Castex pauses pension and unemployment insurance reforms
In addition, the threshold allowing a reloading of rights, when working during his period of unemployment, will remain aligned with the membership conditions and will therefore be four months (instead of six) when it was only d. 'one month before November 1st.
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Rise in electricity prices … Regulated electricity prices will increase by 1.55% as of Saturday for the 24 million residential subscribers still dependent on regulated electricity prices set by the State. This increase is largely explained by the costs of the networks which are reviewed annually and are used to finance the Electricity Transmission Network (RTE) and the electricity distributor Enedis (formerly ERDF).
… And gas! Regulated gas tariffs, which Engie (formerly GDF Suez) and local distribution boards (RLDs) can charge, increase on average by 1.3% compared to the previous month, indicates in a notice of 23 July the Commission of energy regulation (CRE).
Concretely, the tariff will increase by 0.3% for cooking use, 0.7% for dual cooking and hot water use, 1.4% for gas heating and 1.6% for small boiler room. Note that this increase will be regular and recurring until February 2021, reaching a total of 6%.
Be aware that regulated gas prices are on the way out. No company can market contracts based on these tariffs since the end of 2019. The current contracts, with regulated tariffs for individuals, remain in force until June 30, 2023 inclusive. Individuals can however subscribe to a market offer with other operators to promote competition.
We do not touch the interest rate of the booklet A. Bad news for those who put money aside during the crisis. And they are many. According to studies, 100 billion euros should be saved by the end of the year. Except that one should not expect an increase in the remuneration of the livret A. The rate will remain at a floor level of 0.50%. It's not a lot. But if the calculation formula had been applied to the letter, the rate would have been close to zero.
Last wave for the reimbursement of overpayments of taxes. Some have already received refunds for overpayments of taxes. If not, there is still hope for you to receive a check from the Treasury. A final wave of reimbursements is due from August 7. Overall (with the first payments made in July), 14.5 million taxpayers must receive a transfer corresponding to the "overpayment" following the calculation of income tax 2019. Conversely, at at the end of the summer, 9.6 million households will have to pay to regularize their balance.
A lower car conversion premium. The Ministry of Ecological Transition has set a new conversion bonus system, which will be implemented from August 3. It must follow on from the exceptional one introduced as part of the automobile support plan. In less than two months, the planned 200,000 bonuses were granted.
To benefit from this bonus, a vehicle classified as Crit'Air 3 or older must be scrapped (ie petrol vehicles registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles registered before 2011).
The premium scale for individuals is between 2,500 and 5,000 euros, depending on their income, for the purchase of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. This premium will be 1,500 to 3,000 euros for a Crit'Air 1 or 2 vehicle (against 2,500 to 5,000 euros during the exceptional premium).
The conversion bonus with the transformation of a heat engine into an electric motor is 5,000 euros. Supported by this new device, in the same way as the purchase of an electric vehicle. The state surcharge of 1000 euros when buyers live or work in a "low emission zone" (ZFE) is also maintained.
End of sales on August 11. Hurry up to find great deals! The summer sales, which started on July 15 for only four weeks, will end across the country on August 11.
Payment of the back-to-school allowance from August 18 in metropolitan France. More than three million families with modest incomes will benefit from this aid, which this year will amount to nearly 470 euros for a schoolboy, 490 euros for a college student, and more than 500 euros for a high school student. This year, because of the crisis, a boost was given by the government. This back-to-school allowance will be paid on August 4 in Reunion Island and Mayotte, then on August 18 in mainland France and in other overseas departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana).
It is paid for "each child in school born between September 16, 2002 and December 31, 2014 inclusive", as well as "each child born after this date and already enrolled in CP". It also concerns apprentices, indicates the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) on its site.
The possibility of paying the canteen or taxes at the tobacco shop. This system has only just been put in place, but will gain momentum in the coming weeks. To pay taxes, the children's canteen or even everyday bills, all you have to do is present the bill to the tobacconist. Depending on the amounts, it will be possible to pay the amount by check, credit card or cash. The system is secure and will allow payments to be traced, but also to notify the administration that the transaction has been made.