In July 2022, a lot will change for the citizens of Germany. From increasing the minimum wage and pension to expanding the law on deposits and relieving citizens of their financial burden.
German citizens who were born between 1953 and 1958 and have a driver’s license issued before 1999 must exchange it. Otherwise there is a risk of a warning. This was originally planned for January, but the deadline was extended to July 19, 2022 due to the pandemic.
The cost of the exchange is 25.50 euros. To apply for an EU driver’s license, you must bring a valid identity card, your old driver’s license and a biometric passport photo. A driving or health test will not be carried out.
Surf tip: Documents – short driver’s license check: when you are affected by the exchange obligation
Citizens who receive a pension in Germany will receive more money from July. In western Germany, the pension increases by 5.35 percent, in eastern Germany by 6.12 percent. The German pension insurance speaks of one of the highest pension adjustments since the introduction of the pension insurance.
From July, tenants and landlords are obliged to provide information about rental prices. This should enable a comparison of rental prices, especially in large cities. Tenants and landlords are selected at random. Anyone who refuses to provide information faces a fine of up to 5,000 euros.
As of July 1, 2022, the corona tests will no longer be free of charge. So far, every citizen has been free to be tested at least once a week in a test center. At the moment it does not appear that the government will extend this regulation.
An adjustment of the mandatory testing regulation for old people’s and nursing homes is still pending. There, visitors are required to have a negative antigen or PCR test result. It is not yet clear whether the citizens will have to bear the costs for this.
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The child bonus will be paid out in July as part of the relief package. There is a one-time bonus of 100 euros for every child who is entitled to child benefit.
Due to the persistent inflation and the rapidly increasing prices for food, recipients of social assistance benefits, Hartz IV and asylum allowance are also relieved. They get two payments of 100 euros each and their children 20 euros each.
As Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised before his election, the minimum wage will be raised. By October 2022, this is to be gradually increased to 12 euros. The minimum wage rose to EUR 9.82 in January and will now rise to EUR 10.45 in July.
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is causing rising energy prices in our country. To counteract this, the traffic light coalition decided to abolish the EEG surcharge. The EEG surcharge finances the expansion of renewable energies.
The elimination means that citizens no longer have to pay the EEG surcharge, which should make electricity cheaper. Whether this actually saves consumers money remains to be seen for the time being.
From July, a deposit of 25 cents will also be charged on disposable plastic bottles and beverage cans. Due to the change in the packaging law, fruit drinks in bottles such as orange juice and alcoholic mixed drinks will also have to be recycled in the future. Only plastic bottles with milk are excluded from this. Tetrapacks also remain deposit-free.
If you want to send parcels or parcels with DHL from July, you have to expect higher prices. This applies to national and international shipments. The reason for the price increase is the general increase in transport, delivery and labor costs.
Already at the beginning of the year the tobacco tax was increased and the price of cigarettes has risen. From July, this will also apply to shisha tobacco and liquids for e-cigarettes. It does not matter whether the tobacco contains nicotine.
Old electrical appliances can be handed in to supermarkets and discounters from July. Even supermarkets that only occasionally stock electrical appliances are obliged to accept old electrical appliances. This also applies to online retailers who sell electronic devices.
Since the beginning of the year, consumers must be able to easily terminate contracts without a long lead time. Anyone who has concluded a contract online should also be able to cancel it online in the future in order to avoid the paper clutter.
From July there must be a cancellation button on websites where contracts can be concluded. If this is not the case, the consumer has the right to terminate the contract without notice.
The internet company Amazon increases the prices for a subscription from 3 euros to 3.99 euros. The costs for an annual subscription then no longer amount to 30 euros, but to 39.99 euros.
