“May Changes in Germany: Gas Prices, Special Payments, and Corona-Warn-App Updates”

A lot changes in May – especially in financial terms. An overview of special payments, gas prices and the most important events.

Frankfurt – May has some changes ready in Germany. This includes the 49-euro ticket, which is valid in Germany from May 1st. So far, the new Germany ticket has already been sold, but it can only be used from May. For 49 euros per month, passengers can then use all means of public transport. The ticket is valid throughout Germany. Long-distance transport is not included in the ticket.

There is good news regarding the 49-euro ticket, especially for commuters: The new Germany ticket can also be used as a job ticket and is then significantly cheaper. If companies give a subsidy, the federal government also supports it.

What changes in May: Corona-Warn-App is put into “sleep mode”.

From April 30th, a basic function in the Corona-Warn-App will be discontinued. As the Robert Koch Institute RKI reports, there will no longer be contact tracing and warnings regarding an increased risk of infection with the corona virus. The decision was justified with the growing immunity in the population and the abolition of rules. From June 1, 2023, the Corona-Warn-App will be put into a rest mode. However, users can still access their vaccination certificates in the app.

Gas price changes in Germany in May – wholesale market relaxes

The gas price trend in wholesale is easing. Like the portal gasvergleich.com reports, energy prices for gas have continued to fall in recent weeks and have “reached a multi-month low”. Among other things, the energy company GASAG announced a reduction in working prices for gas from May 1st. At 8.32 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) and thus below 12 cents/kWh, it falls outside the scope of the gas price brake. GASAG gives the reason that prices in the wholesale market have fallen significantly in recent months.

“For a single-family house with an average consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours, the new energy price of 11.37 ct/kWh (gross) from May 2023 and a stable basic price result in a price reduction compared to the contractual price of around 1,664 euros per year that has been in force since January.” , it says in the Announcement from the GASAG Group.

One-time payments and bonuses in some professions in May – What changes in May

Employees from some industries can look forward to one-off payments, special payments or bonuses in May. This includes people with these occupations:

• Construction workers and painters and varnishers
• Employees in the German paper, cardboard and plastics industry
• Employees in the painting and varnishing trade

Payments in May for employees in construction, painters, varnishers and in the paper industry

Employees in the construction industry as well as painters and varnishers can look forward to special payments in May. The currently valid collective agreement in the main construction trade had already provided for a wage increase on April 1, and an additional one-off payment of 450 euros will now follow in May. With one catch: The special payments are only available in West Germany. In 2026, however, an equalization of incomes in the west and east should be achieved.

Employees in the German paper, cardboard and plastics industry also receive one-off payments. This was announced by the Verdi union and the main association for paper and plastics processing after the fifth round of negotiations in mid-April. On May 1, 2023, a one-off payment of 1,000 euros will follow, free of taxes and duties.

Recently, employees in the painting and varnishing trades have also received special payments. Requirement: You have not already received it. The newly agreed collective agreement not only provides for a higher wage, but also includes an inflation compensation premium of 600 euros. The one-time payment is tax- and social security-free. It is paid out proportionately for part-time employees, while trainees receive 180 euros. (nz)