Social benefits, in particular the RSA, the activity bonus and family allowances, will increase by 1.6% on April 1, we learned on Wednesday from the Ministry of Solidarity and associations helping the most precarious, the latter criticizing a very insufficient increase in their eyes.
This revaluation was calculated from the average of the monthly inflation rates for one year, i.e. +5.6% compared to April 2022. But the real increase in April 2023 was reduced to +1.6% because the government taking into account the exceptional increase of 4% which had been granted in advance in July 2022, the minister told AFP.
The Minister, Jean-Christophe Combe, announced this decision on Tuesday to solidarity associations during the first meeting of a unit dedicated to monitoring inflation, his cabinet said. This unit will meet again soon to anticipate the measures and mechanisms necessary to protect the most vulnerable in the face of rising prices and maintain strong vigilance on the risks of falling into poverty, the same source assured.
A revaluation considered largely insufficient
The representatives of the associations present, however, told Jean-Christophe Combe of their incomprehension, in the face of a revaluation considered largely insufficient, indicated to AFP Noam Leandri, president of the Collectif Alerte, which brings together 34 associations fighting against poverty.
We were all unanimously shocked, we found it indecent, said Noam Leandri. We still hope that the decision will move by April 1, but I told the minister that we could not leave this without action, he added.
For this association manager, the anticipated increase granted from July 2022 was intelligent, since it made it possible to cope with inflation estimated by INSEE at an average of 5.2% in 2022. However, prices continue to increase, we are far from reaching the end of an inflationary spiral, he insisted.
Consumer prices have indeed increased by an average of 6.2% over one year, but at least by 14 to 15% on food and basic necessities, which constitute a significant part of the budget of precarious public, has- he insists.
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