The start of the month is also marked by rising gas prices, an increase in book delivery costs and the appearance of a score on data protection by online platforms.
Who says first of the month, says new things. The long-awaited deconjugalization of the allowance for disabled adults (AAH) comes into force on Sunday October 1st. The beginning of autumn is marked by other administrative developments, including the raising of the ceiling of the popular savings account, an increase in APL and a reduction in the coverage of dental care by Social Security. But also by a major gastronomic change: bakers are invited to put less salt in their bread. Franceinfo takes stock.
The allowance for disabled adults is demaritalized
The AAH, this aid paid to people with disabilities and modest incomes, will now be allocated and calculated without taking into account the situation of their possible spouse. The CAF estimates that this reform will increase the amount already received each month by 40,000 beneficiaries, and will open the benefit to 80,000 additional people. This deconjugalization has been demanded for a long time by the main stakeholders and associations. The government has also planned a system to prevent this reform from penalizing certain current beneficiaries: the new method of calculating the AAH risks reducing the amount, it will not be applied to them.
The ceiling of the popular savings account is increased
The maximum amount that can be deposited in a popular savings account increases from 7,700 to 10,000 euros. This investment regulated by the State, at a rate set at 6%, is reserved for people with modest incomes, according to conditions detailed by the Ministry of the Economy. Nearly 10 million French people already hold a LEP, and the number of subscribers continues to increase.
Personalized housing assistance is revalued
Personalized housing assistance (APL) increases by 3.7% on average for a beneficiary household. The government specifies that the parameters of the APL are “revalued in line with the capping of rent increases”. In June, MPs voted for the increase in the rent reference index to be limited to 3.5% until the first quarter of 2024.
Online platforms set up a “cyberscore”
Large online platforms are required, from October 1, to display a score informing the general public of the level of security of the personal data they host, after having undergone an audit. Provided for by a law of March 2022, it takes a form reminiscent of that of the Nutri-score affixed to food products: a “note associated with a color code (from green to red)”explains the government.
Bakers are reducing the salt content of bread
The National Confederation of French Bakeries is asking artisans who are not yet doing so to adopt a new recipe, less rich in salt, for their breads and baguettes. “The bakers undertake to reach the following thresholds: 1.4 g of salt/100 g of standard bread, 1.3 g/100 g for special breads”, she specifies. This is the result ofn plan concluded in March 2022 with the Ministries of Agriculture and Health to help reduce salt-related health risks. “Reducing salt consumption by 30% by 2025 is an objective set by France with the World Health Organization.recalls the Ministry of Agriculture, which explains that the bakery sector “represents around 20% of the daily salt intake of the French”.
The price of gas increases
“Between September and October 2023, the variable portion excluding taxes (HT) of a typical cooking/hot water and heating consumer increases by 9.21 euros/MWh”, anticipated the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) at the beginning of September. LThe new average price, which stands at 87.21 euros/MWh, is justified by “the rise in wholesale gas prices”, but remains below the level set by the tariff shield which expired at the end of June, explains the CRE. This benchmark price, published each month, is the one applied by certain offers since the end of the regulated gas tariff, which no longer exists since July 1.
Dental care is less reimbursed by Social Security
Social Security now covers a smaller share of dental care, as the Ministry of Health announced in June. They are reimbursed up to 60%, compared to 70% previously. Supplementary health insurance covers the difference, estimated at 500 million euros per year, but ensures that they will have to increase their contributions accordingly. “The most vulnerable people will be most impacted”because more of them do not have mutual insurance, warned Féreuze Aziza, health insurance project manager at France Assos Santé, in June.
Book deliveries are becoming more expensive
Online sellers of books will have to apply shipping costs of at least three euros to all orders with a total amount of less than 35 euros. The minimum was until now set at one euro cent, a rule which will continue to apply to larger orders. This government initiative aims to encourage sales in bookstores.