In which areas you will now get more money : pension, minimum wage, plastic bags: this changes in 2022
Service pensions, mandatory masks, supermarkets: new laws now apply in almost all areas of life. Who will therefore have more money available in 2022 and what new rules will apply to car drivers and in the supermarket – an overview of the most important changes.
By saskia leidinger
- pensions and company pension plans
- Minimum wage
- Hartz-IV
- taxes and corona bonuses
- Improved nursing care insurance
- Compulsory vaccination
- Electronic sick leave
- The e-prescription is coming in 2022?
- These prices will become more expensive in 2022
- What will change at supermarkets in 2022?
- shredding chicks will be banned
- Nuclear phase-out is completed
- Banks
- Census 2022
- Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves
Numerous new laws came into force at the turn of the year. Some new rules promise more money in the wallets of many saarlanders. As a consumer, you will also have more rights in contracts in 2022. On the other hand, motorists will have to adjust to new regulations. the saarbrucker zeitung gives you an overview of the most important changes in 2022.
pensions and company pension plans
pensions will rise in the coming year. The pension increase is likely to be around four percent from July 2022. However, this means that pensions will rise less than previously expected. This is due to the reintroduction of the catch-up factor by the traffic light coalition.
Catch-up factor briefly explained: pension increases in germany are based on average earnings. However, there is a pension guarantee so that pensions are not reduced if wages fall. That’s why the so-called nahhol factor is taken into account for every pension increase. So the years in which the pensions should have actually decreased. As a result, pensions will rise less than they should according to average wage trends. The catch-up factor is therefore a "theoretical pension reduction".
Anyone retiring next year will have to pay tax on 82 percent of their pension. So far, the share has been 81 percent. Also, new pensioners will have to work longer than before. The regular age limit for the retirement increases to 65 years and eleven months in 2022. the age limit will be offered gradually and is to be 67 years in 2031. There will be no change to the 18.6 percent contribution rate.
Those who sign a contract for a company pension plan will receive a 15 percent subsidy from their employer. From next year, this rule will also apply to old contracts.
Read here what you need to do if there are gaps in your pension account.
Minimum wage
Low-income earners can enjoy a higher minimum wage rejoice. To 1. January, this rises from 9.60 euros to 9.82 euros and will be on 1. July raised again – to 10.45 euros. In addition, the federal government has decided in its coalition agreement on a minimum wage of twelve euros. Federal Labor Minister hubertus heil wants to present a law on this as early as the beginning of next year. However, it is uncertain when the new minimum wage of twelve euros will come into effect.
In addition to the statutory minimum wage, the minimum wages in various occupations will also increase in 2022. Including roofers, electricians and waste management companies. Trainees also get more money.
Hartz-IV
Single adults who hartz-IV receive slightly more money. The standard rate increases by three euros to 449 euros.
taxes and corona bonuses
As of january, income tax will be subject to a new basic allowance. This increases from 9.696 euros to 9.984 euro. The maximum amount for the deduction of maintenance payments will also be increased accordingly. Single parents have in the corona pandemic a so-called relief allowance of 4.008 euros received. This will apply indefinitely from next year onwards.
Those who receive a higher salary or wage in 2022 will be allowed to keep more of it in the future. Provided that the increase in wages merely compensates for inflation, no higher taxes have to be paid. Tax-free also remain bonus payments in the course of the corona pandemic. 1.employers can offer their employees 500 euros until 31 December. March 2022 tax-free transfer.
Improved nursing care insurance
In the future, nursing care insurance will pay an allowance towards the cost of care if people in nursing homes are accommodated – staggered according to type of service and duration of accommodation. Five percent is paid in the first year, 25 percent in the second year and 45 percent in the third year. In the event of prolonged care, 70 percent will be covered.
Citizens are also to receive some financial relief for outpatient and short-term care as of january. The subsidies for the so-called care benefits increase by five percent, benefits for short-term care by ten percent.
However, privately insured people and those without children in the statutory health insurance system will have to cope with higher costs in the coming year contributions reckon.
compulsory vaccination
As of mid march, there will be a institution-related corona vaccination obligation. Employees of old people’s homes and hospitals will be affected. This is intended to protect people who are particularly at risk from the coronavirus. A general vaccination requirement for all citizens in germany is currently still being debated.
Electronic sickness notification
The so-called yellow slip in paper form is to be abolished. From 1. July 2022 sick notes then transmitted digitally by the health insurance companies to the employer. Patients will then no longer need the printed paper document.
Is the e-prescription coming in 2022?
In addition to sick notes, prescriptions are also to be digitized. If you are prescribed a prescription drug by your doctor, you will need the "app" in the futurethe e-prescription", which you then show at the pharmacy. Alternatively, patients without a smartphone will receive a prescription code to present. As of january, issuance should become mandatory. However, there are problems with the implementation. Now the start date has been postponed indefinitely. Instead, the test operation is to be expanded.
These prices will become more expensive in 2022
The CO2 price increases and thus also the prices at the pump. Oil and diesel will then cost 9.5 cents more, gasoline 8.5 cents.
Prices for smokers will rise in the coming year, even outside inflation. The tobacco tax will be raised. This applies to cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes and water pipe tobacco.
Also the german post raise your prices. From January, standard letters will cost 85 cents (five cents more), postcards 70 cents (ten cents more).
What will change at supermarkets in 2022?
- Thin disposable plastic bags and so-called bioplastic bags will be banned as of january. Up to now, a voluntary commitment by retailers has applied. The small bags in the fruit and vegetable department, however, will be retained.
- The care system will be expanded. In the future, a 25-cent deposit will be charged on all plastic beverage cans and disposable bottles – regardless of their contents. Remaining stocks without deposit can be sold until june. Pure dairy products are excepted. However, only until 2023.
- For saarlanders it will also be easier to buy old electrical equipment to be submitted. Supermarkets and discounters must accept electrical appliances up to a size of 25 centimeters without conditions. These would include smartphones, tablets, navigation devices, etc. For larger appliances such as washing machines, customers may only be able to do this if they buy a new electrical appliance.
- supermarkets want 5D for more animal welfare introduce. This means that from birth to slaughter and processing, all steps should take place in germany. aldi sud and aldi nord have announced this for conventional pork. Other dealers also apparently want to do this. However, exceptions are to apply at aldi for frozen, organic or fillet products.
shredding chicks will be prohibited
From 1. January 2022 shredding of chicken chicks is prohibited. 45 million freshly hatched male chicks are killed every year because they are not suitable for the food industry.
Nuclear phase-out to be completed
2019 was the renewed nuclear phase-out decided. 2022 neckarwestheim 2 and isar 2 will be the last plants to go offline.
This will change for car drivers in 2022
- The old paper driver’s licenses will become invalid and have to be exchanged. This affects around 40 million car and motorcycle licenses in germany. If you were born between 1953 and 1958 and you have paid tax before 31 December, you will receive. If a driver made his license in December 1998, he must now exchange it for the EU driver’s license. Time for this is until 19. January.
- In addition to a warning triangle and first-aid kit, in the future motorists will also have to carry at least two medical masks have it with them in the car. An exact date for when the regulation will come into force is not yet known.
- Motor insurance will be cheaper for millions of vehicles – more expensive for others. The reason is a change in the type classes. For example, a VW E-golf will be cheaper, while the hyundai kona 1.6 T will be more expensive in liability insurance.
- For many plug-in hybrids the subsidy falls away. This is to apply only to models with a minimum electric range of 60 kilometers. Previously the limit was 40 kilometers. In addition, the tax break for autogas ends on 31. December 2022.
- The GERMAN RAILWAY changes its ticket system. In the future, it will no longer be possible to buy ICE or IC tickets from the conductor on the train. Instead, rail passengers who spontaneously board a train will have to buy a digital ticket. This still goes up to ten minutes after departure via the train app. In local transport, tickets must be purchased in advance.
Banks
If you are a customer of ING or 1822direkt, then from 2022 you will have to pay for your giro card pay money. At ING, this will be 99 cents as of march. Customers can cancel giro cards and revert to free visa debit cards.
census 2022
In the coming year, it will be counted how many people live in germany. Census will take place in the so-called 2022 census starting at 15. May mainly about the registration registers. However, some citizens are also asked directly about their living conditions. For example, federal states can use census data to determine how much demand there will be for schools and housing in the coming years.
More rights for online shopping and complaints
- Contracts are often quickly concluded online. However, giving notice is often cumbersome. This is to change. As of july, websites must include a button that can be used to online contracts cancel.
- But there are also changes to the terms of contracts. For contracts concluded after 1. March 2022, will then have a notice period from one month. If you miss this, the contract will not be extended by, say, one year, as before, but indefinitely. This will ensure that you can still terminate your contract within one month of the original notice period.
- Also complaints will be made easier. If a product is defective or faulty, it can be assumed for up to 12 months that the fault was already present at the time of purchase. Previously, this only applied for six months.
- Coffee trips are to become more transparent. From the 28. May 2022, providers of such trips must provide prior information about the products and itinerary offered. In addition, it will be forbidden in the future to sell medical and financial products, as well as insurance or home savings contracts.
Fireplaces and wood stoves
If you like to heat with a wood fireplace, you must pay attention to the new emission values. From 1. New limits apply in January. You will find the information on the type plate of your stove or fireplace.
For example, the limit value for fine dust (PM) will in future be 40 mg/m³ at 13% oxygen, and for carbon monoxide (CO) 1500 mg/m³ at 13% oxygen.