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Pension increases of 2.2
Basic pensions will be raised by 2.2% on January 1, 2025, in line with inflation. This change is the result of the motion of censure voted against the government on December 4, 2024.
The latest version of the Social Security Financing Bill for 2025 proposed two increases for retirement pensions: a 0.8% increase in January 2025 for all pensions, then an additional 0.8% increase in July 2025 for small pensions (retirees whose pension is below the Smic).
As the 2025 Social Security budget has not been adopted, the standard rule for pension revaluation set out in the Social Security Code will apply.
PEL interest rate rises to 1.75%.
From January 1, 2025, the annual interest rate on PEL home savings plans will be 1.75%, compared with 2.25% previously. This reduction has no impact on plans opened before January 1, 2025. Note that the interest rate on a home savings plan is set when the plan is opened.
Changes in the legal interest rate in the first half of 2025
The legal interest rate is used to calculate penalties for late payment to a creditor. The rates applicable during the first half of 2025 were set by a decree of December 17, published in the Journal Officiel of December 19, 2024. They apply from January 1, 2025.
The amount that can be deducted from a deceased person's account for funeral expenses is raised
As heir, you are obliged to pay funeral expenses if the deceased did not take out a contract to cover them. To pay these expenses, a deduction may be made from the deceased's bank accounts under certain conditions. The ceiling for this amount has been raised to January 1, 2025.
Livret A rate to fall from February 1
The Livret A rate will be lowered from February 1, 2025. Fixed at 3% since the beginning of 2023, it is set to fall to 2.5% according to French Economy Minister Eric Lombard, due to the decline in inflation.
Non-renewal of the possibility of using luncheon vouchers to pay for groceries
To support employees' purchasing power, the August 16, 2022 law on purchasing power allowed meal vouchers to be used until the end of 2023 for the purchase of all food products in supermarkets. The scheme was extended to 2024 by the law of December 26, 2023.
The adoption of the motion of censure, which led to the resignation of the Barnier government on December 5, 2024, resulted in the halting of parliamentary consideration of several texts, including the proposed law aimed at extending the exemption for the use of restaurant vouchers for all food products.
With the appointment of a new Prime Minister, François Bayrou, and the installation of a new Government, the Senate's Social Affairs Committee will be able to resume consideration of the text.
Universal USB-C charger becomes mandatory for small and medium-sized electronic devices
As of December 28, 2024, all small and medium-sized electronic devices sold in France must be compatible with a USB type-C universal charger. This measure, provided for by European Directive 2022/2380 and transposed into French law by Decree 2023-1271 of December 27, 2024 and thearrêté d'application du 27 décembre 2023, aims to reduce electronic waste and simplify everyday life for consumers.
Allocation journalière du proche aidant : la durée de la perception de l'allocation est prolongée (In French only)
Caregiver's leave enables you to stop working temporarily or work part-time to look after a disabled or frail relative. As this leave is generally unpaid by your employer, you may receive a daily caregiver's allowance. At present, you can receive the daily caregiver's allowance (AJPA) for a maximum of 66 days (split into half-days) over the course of your entire working career. This ceiling applies regardless of the number of people you help.
From January 1, 2025, once you have reached this 66-day limit, you will be able to receive the AJPA for a further maximum of 66 days if you need to provide assistance to a new person.
Social security ceiling to rise by 1.6% in 2025
The Social Security ceiling (PASS) is re-evaluated each year on January 1, in line with wage trends. It corresponds to the maximum amount of remuneration or earnings taken into account to calculate social security rights and certain contributions, and to define the basis of assessment for certain contributions. On January 1, 2025, the PASS will rise to €47,100 (from €46,368 in 2024) and the monthly ceiling to €3,925 (from €3,864 in 2024), an increase of 1.6%.
Changes in postage rates
Overall, universal postal service mail and parcel rates will increase by an average of 6.8% on January 1, 2025. The green letter rate for everyday items, which was 1.29 euros in 2024, will rise to 1.39 euros in 2025. The Lettre services plus rate, for larger items requiring tracking notifications, will rise from 2.99 euros in 2024 to 3.15 euros. The rate for the red e-letter (3 sheets), for urgent next-day delivery, will remain unchanged at 1.49 euros.
The price of the 20g registered letter will rise from 5.36 euros to 5.74 euros. The price of the International Letter from 0 to 20 g will rise from 1.96 euros to 2.10 euros. This single rate will enable customers to send their letters to any country in the world. The price of the "suivi" sticker, which provides individual customers with information on the delivery of all mail bearing this sticker, will remain unchanged at 0.50 euros.
