Promotions, tobacco prices, driving license, RSA... What changes on March 1st

A new month means the entry into force of new measures, which are more or less good news. Ban on certain supermarket promotions, changes to driving licenses, increase in tobacco prices, conditional extension of RSA... Overview of what is changing this Friday, March 1, but also later in the month.

No more aggressive promotions on detergents or shower gels, sometimes offered at -50% or even -80% in supermarkets. The Descrozaille law now limits them, as for food products, to a maximum of 34% for hygiene and cleaning products. A measure little appreciated by mass retailers in this period of inflation. The government recalls that the law aims to “strengthen the balance between suppliers and distributors”.

As part of the fight against smoking, the prices of certain packs of cigarettes are increasing on March 1, indicates Customs. The increase, from 50 to 75 cents, concerns packets of Vogue, Lucky Strike and Winfield. Most classic packages are now sold for around 12 euros.

Already tested in 18 departments, the new active solidarity income (RSA) formula desired by Emmanuel Macron is extended to 47 departments. Payment of this aid (of 607.75 euros for a single person) is thus conditional on 15 hours of weekly activity. Although the announcement was made by the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Health Catherine Vautin at the beginning of February, the list of departments concerned is still not known. The measure will be generalized in 2025.

Also read RSA, APL, family allowances... Who can really benefit from social benefits in France?

The three-month period imposed on drivers who have obtained their B license for vehicles with an automatic gearbox only and who wish to undergo training to be able to drive with a manual gearbox has been removed. It was a promise made by former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne this summer. From now on, this seven-hour training to get used to the manual gearbox can be completed as soon as the license is obtained.

The 13 million French people who receive a supplementary retirement pension from Agirc-Arrco will be able to see this change in March, with the taking into account of new CSG rates. The change in the amount of the new supplementary pension depends on the tax situation of each retiree: if the CSG rate has increased, the pension will be lower, and vice versa if the rate has fallen. The payments for the month of March will contain a catch-up - upwards or downwards - for the months of January and February, where Agirc-Arrco was unable to apply these changes.

Also read: Some Agirc Arrco pensions will be lower in March 2024

This measure will not be put in place until March 31. The remaining charge - not reimbursed by Social Security - on boxes of medicine increases from 0.50 euros to 1 euro per box. The medical franchise also increases to 2 euros for doctor consultations, medical biology examinations and analyses, and to 4 euros for medical transport.

The system - which aims to "empower" patients according to Emmanuel Macron - will not concern minors, women who benefit from maternity insurance and beneficiaries of complementary solidarity health insurance. The annual ceiling set at 50 euros for people affected by a serious pathology is maintained. The measure should bring in 800 million euros over one year, according to government estimates.

Restaurant vouchers issued in 2023 are no longer valid from March, at least for those in paper version. For beneficiaries of a payment card with electronic meal vouchers, their balance credited in 2023 does not expire. At certain suppliers like Edenred, however, it will be temporarily withdrawn to be recredited during the month of March on the 2024 balance, but there is nothing to do.

The energy check paid to 5.6 million households in 2023 can be used until March 31, reminds the government. It can be used to pay energy bills but also energy renovation work. “A new energy check for the rest of 2024 will soon be sent by mail to the households concerned in order to cope with the increase in energy prices,” specifies the executive, without giving a date.

The last weekend of March will mark the transition to summer time on the night of Saturday March 30 to Sunday March 31. At 2 a.m. it will be 3 a.m., which means an hour of lost sleep. But it’s for a good cause: one more step towards sunny days!