This figure, well below inflation over one year, is explained by the anticipated 4% increase in benefits which had been put in place in July 2022, said the Ministry of Solidarity.
A welcome but judged upgrade “insufficient” by associations. Social benefits, including the RSA, the activity bonus and family allowances, will increase by 1.6% on April 1, announced Wednesday, March 22, the Minister of Solidarity, Jean-Christophe Combe, to aid associations to the most precarious.
The latter, however, informed the minister of their incomprehension in the face of a revaluation deemed largely insufficient, according to Noam Leandri, president of the Collectif Alerte, which brings together 34 associations fighting against poverty. “We were all unanimously shocked, we found it indecent”he reacted. “We still hope that the decision will change by April 1, but I told the minister that we could not leave this without action”he added.
“Prices continue to rise”
This revaluation was calculated from the average of the monthly inflation rates for one year, i.e. an increase of 5.6% compared to April 2022. But the real increase in April 2023 was reduced to +1.6% , because the government took into account the exceptional increase of 4% which had been granted so “anticipated” in July 2022, the ministry told AFP.
For Noam Leandri, the increase granted from July 2022 was “intelligent”since it has made it possible to better cope with inflation, evaluated by INSEE on average at 5.2% in 2022. However, “prices continue to rise, we are very far from reaching the end of an inflationary spiral”he insisted.
The Minister spoke at the first meeting of a unit dedicated to “Inflation Tracker”, said his office. This last “will meet again soon to anticipate the measures and systems necessary to protect the most vulnerable in the face of rising prices” And “maintain strong vigilance on the risks of falling into poverty”assured this source.