The government unveils its measures to support purchasing power

Energy: fuel discount, tariff shield and transport bonus

The government has decided to extend at least until the end of August the fuel discount of 18 cents (in mainland France), introduced since April 1. It will then be reduced to 12 cents and then to 6 cents before ending at the end of the year, announced Thursday the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, specifying that the discount of 18 cents cost 800 million euros. per month. An expense that will have to be included in the amending finance law.

The minister also indicated that the government wanted to set up from October 1 a “worker fuel allowance”, subject to means, targeted at employees and work-study trainees who use their car to go to work.

The extension until the end of the year of the "tariff shield" (cap on electricity and gas prices) is also recorded.

Finally, the ceiling of the tax-free individual transport bonus that the employer can pay to the employee will increase from 200 to 400 euros for 2022 and 2023 and will be cumulative with the compulsory payment of 50% of the subscription to public transport.

Basic pensions and social benefits

Retirement and disability pensions under the basic schemes will be increased by 4% from 1 July. This increase, combined with that of just over 1% in January, is approaching the level of inflation, which reached 5,8% in June.

Family benefits and social minima, namely the active solidarity income (RSA), the allowance for disabled adults (AAH) and the solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa) will also be increased by 4%. Some of these social benefits had already been increased by 1,8% in April.

Index point

The 5,7 million public officials obtained a general increase, applicable from July 1, of 3,5% of the value of the index point which serves as the basis for their remuneration, at a cost of 7,5 billion euros. euros distributed between the State (3,2 billion), local authorities (2,28 billion) and hospitals (1,99 billion).

Additional measures have also been announced, such as a 7% increase in State participation in the financing of collective catering.

food check

A food check of 100 euros, plus 50 euros per dependent child, will be paid to 9 million households. In 2020, during the Covid-19 crisis, a similar bonus of 150 euros per adult and 100 euros per child concerned just over 4 million households.

Macron bonus

The ceiling of the exceptional tax-free and desocialized purchasing power bonus, known as the Macron bonus, will be tripled. Companies will therefore be able to pay up to 3.000 euros to their employees and even up to 6.000 euros for those who have set up a profit-sharing or participation scheme.

The average level paid per employee in 2021 was only 506 euros, against 1.000 authorized, according to the Ministry of Public Accounts.

freelance

A reduction in the contributions of the self-employed is planned. This measure, which aims for more equity between the contributions of employees and the self-employed, should allow the latter to earn 550 euros per year at the level of the minimum wage.

Rent

The benchmark rent index will increase by 3,5% in July and then remain stuck at this level for a year, a measure presented by the government as a compromise between the interests of tenants and landlords. Personalized housing aid (APL) will also be increased by 3,5%.

Royalty waived

The abolition of the audiovisual license fee will finally be effective next fall, with a gain for households of 138 euros, or a shortfall of more than 3 billion euros that the State promises to compensate with public broadcasters.

students

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced Wednesday in her general policy speech a revaluation of scholarships. An extension of the university restaurant ticket at 1 euro for scholarship holders was also in the pipeline.