May 1, 2023 marks a new day of national mobilization against pension reform. Indeed, at the time of the verdict of the Constitutional Council on April 14, the unions met to prepare the continuation of the disputes. Asked at the microphone of BFMTV during this meeting, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, announced that the intersyndicale “give[ed] an appointment to all French men and women on May 1”. She then spoke of an “unprecedented exceptional mobilization for a popular tidal wave”.
In addition, the four unions of the SCNF have called for two days of “railway anger”. Thus, on April 20 and 28, 2023, traffic was and will be severely disrupted due to the strikes of these unions. However, May 1 also heralds several changes that will apply from that date.
On April 14, 2023, the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, announced the revaluation of the Smic “by a little more than 2%” during a trip to Hips, in Eure-et-Loir, according to comments collected by Le Figaro. Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labour, specified that it will be more precisely 2.19%. This increase then amounts to 6% over one year. It will be applied from May 1. The Smic will then go from 11.27 euros gross to 11.52 euros gross, or 1,747.20 euros gross per month. Moreover, this is not the only increase that will apply in May.
From April 1, 2023, social benefits would have increased by 1.6%. Among them, we find the RSA or family allowances. However, it is only from May 5 that this increase will be visible for those benefiting from this aid. These revaluations are established to “take inflation into account”, according to the site of the French administration. In total, this increase amounts to 5.6% between April 2022 and April 2023. If the revaluations increase, they will not be the only ones this month.
French Customs also announced an increase in tobacco prices. Indeed, some cigarette packs will be affected. The Lucky Strike Blue package will then drop from 10.60 euros to 11 euros. All tobacco versions of this brand will increase. We also find the packages of Rothmans, Vogue, but also Winfield. Brands that are not affected have already reached the significant bar of 11 euros in recent months.
In addition, Elisabeth Borne announced last September that cigarette prices will be indexed to inflation. All packages should go to the price of 11 euros by 2024, as relayed by France Bleu.
So there are three main changes for May Day. But, there are also deadlines to remember this May. What do they correspond to?
Since Thursday, April 13, 2023, the online tax return campaign has been launched. Depending on your department, you will have to complete it by a specific date. Thus, if you live in a department numbered from 01 to 19, you can fill it out until May 25 before midnight, according to information given by the Ministry of the Economy. French people residing abroad are also concerned. For departments between 20 and 54, you have until June 1 before midnight. For the rest, the service has set June 8 as the deadline. On the other hand, if you have chosen to complete this declaration by hand, you have until May 22.
May also marks the last month to claim your wood check. Indeed, until May 31, households that heat with wood can apply for this aid, which amounts to 200 euros for those most in difficulty. To benefit from it, all you have to do is go to the portal for exceptional government energy vouchers. This request also concerned the fuel check for which you can apply until the last day of April.
As a reminder, the simulation on the portal is not equivalent to a request. It is necessary to file an application in which you will be asked to provide a tax notice for 2021, an invoice certifying that you heat your home with wood, as well as a telephone number.
