Citizens’ money, insurance & Co.
Where there will be more money in 2024 – and where there won’t be
© GamePixel / Adobe Stock
The new year brings changes for consumers – some with advantages, others with disadvantages. Here you can find out what you should pay attention to and what you can look forward to.
Rising insurance costs on the one hand. More income on the other. There are both negative and positive changes that consumers can expect in 2024. The At the end of this year, consumer advice centers will also announce what they can expect. We have created an overview of the most important points for you.
Consumers get more here
Basic allowance and child allowance
Should be in 2024 More income is tax-free and the child allowance is increased. The Basic allowance increases for single people to 11,604 euros, around 300 euros. For married people it will now be 23,208 euros from January 1, 2024, according to the consumer advice center. The Child allowance per child for both parents increase by 360 euros to 6,384 euros. For separated parents becomes half the allowance calculated, i.e. 3,192 euros.
Social assistance and citizens’ money
People who are on social care or citizen’s money are supposed to be in the new year more money receive. For single adults it is 61 euros more and therefore 563 euros per month. The money should also be adjusted for the younger age groups. For young people between 14 and 17 years of age, the contribution will be increased to 471 euros. For children from six to 13 years old it is 390 euros, for children up to the age of six it is 357 euros. The increases in contributions are lower with younger age. According to “Tagesschau”, the innovation of citizens’ money is being discussed again in politics. A much higher inflation rate was assumed when calculating the amounts.
Rising costs: This is becoming more expensive
The Motor vehicle insurance premiums should increase by at least 10 percent in the coming year. Also for property insurance, i.e. household contents and building insurance, higher costs are expected. One reason in both cases is inflation, which has made repair work or the procurement of craftsmanship, materials and construction costs more expensive.
With rising contract prices such as insurance, electricity, gas or rental contracts you have a special right of termination. This is what the “Finanztip” website reports. This regulation could help you switch to a cheaper provider. So it’s worth keeping your eyes open.
minimum wage
The Gross-minimum wage increases 2024 from 12 euros to 12.41 euros. This applies to employees with one main employment subject to insurance as well as people with Mini jobs. For the latter, the earning limit increases to 538 euros per month. Calculated per year it is 6,456 euros. Further information can be found on the “Employer Social Insurance Information Portal”.
More rights for those affected
Stronger rights in class action lawsuits
Organizations can in the new year collective services for consumers complain. It is needed for a class action lawsuit at least 50 affected consumers. According to the consumer advice center, those affected should be able to enter the complaint register up to three weeks after the end of the oral hearing – and thus claim, among other things, compensation, repairs or replacement delivery.
Digital Services Act
From January 1, 2024, a uniform digital rules in the EU apply. “The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Market Act (DMA) form a uniform set of rules that apply across the EU,” says the European Commission’s website. Together they should On the one hand, create a safe digital space for users and on the other hand, ensure competitiveness in the European internal market and worldwide. Online platforms should, among other things, more transparency be obliged.
Building Energy Act (GEG)
The GEG specifies the energy requirements for heating systems. New heating systems should only be installed in the new year if at least 65 percent of them come from renewable energy. So according to the consumer advice center: electricity from photovoltaics, biogas heat, bio-oil, wood pellets, solar thermal energy, environmental heat or green hydrogen. Existing oil and gas heating systems may only until the end of 2044 operate.
Small changes in everyday life
The e-prescription
The transitional period in which pink prescriptions could still be issued is over. From January 1, 2024, medical practices will have to issue an e-prescription for prescription medications. The regulation affects not only general medicine, but also dentists and psychotherapists with health insurance approval. Initially, e-prescriptions will only be issued for those with statutory health insurance. The e-prescription is created in the practice, signed and stored on a central system. Patients can then redeem it at the pharmacy. “For this you need the electronic health card, the e-prescription app or a paper printout”writes the Federal Ministry of Health. Users can then redeem the e-prescription by simply inserting the electronic health card into the pharmacy’s readerit continues.
More drinks get disposable deposits
Previously deposit-free milk and mixed drinks in disposable bottles or cans, Next year you will receive the usual 25 cent deposit. This includes, among other things, yogurt drinks or kefir, provided they are sold in a single-use plastic bottle with more than 0.1 liters. This is what the Frankfurter Rundschau reports. According to consumer advice centers, many energy drinks also fall under the regulation because they often have a high whey content. The change is intended to make purchasing and returning deposits easier.
Critics complain that leftover packaging in deposit machines and discounters can generally lead to unpleasant smells. Anyone who, as a consumer, rinses the bottle briefly is definitely doing the employees on site a favor, especially in summer.
Sources used: finanztip.de, verbraucherzentrale.de, digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu, energiewechsel.de, bundesgesundheitsministerium.de, tagesschau.de, informationsportal.de, fr.de