News item | 21-12-2023 | 5:30 PM
In 2024, a number of rules will change in the area of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Below is an overview of the changes.
A number of temporary energy measures, such as the one-off energy allowance, will be replaced in 2024 by structural measures such as the higher rental allowance, the higher child-related budget and the higher minimum wage.
Introduction of minimum hourly wage
From January 1, employers must pay employees at least the minimum hourly wage per hour. There are then no longer legally prescribed minimum daily, weekly and monthly wages. As a result, minimum wage employees always earn the same hourly wage. Previously, people who worked 40 hours on a minimum wage earned a lower hourly wage than people who worked in a sector where a full-time working week of 36 hours was the norm. This inequality will therefore come to an end. From January 1, the minimum hourly wage is € 13.27 for all employees aged 21 and over. Fixed minimum hourly youth wages apply from 1 January 2024 for employees under the age of 21. These minimum youth hourly wages are derived from the statutory minimum hourly wage.
Benefits
All benefits increase through indexation. This includes the Participation Act benefits (social assistance), IOW, IOAW, AOW, Anw, Wajong, WW, WIA, WAO, Sickness Benefits Act and Benefits Act.
Child benefit, childcare allowance and child-related budget
Parents receive higher reimbursements as a contribution to the costs of children. This concerns child benefit, childcare allowance and child-related budget.
The child benefit per child will increase by a maximum of €25.42 extra next year. This increase includes the regular indexation of child benefit. The amount of child benefit depends on the number of children and their age. The new amount per quarter per age group is as follows:
- 0 to 5 years: €264.42
- 6 to 11 years: €321.08
- 12 to 17 years: €377.74
The child budget will also increase additionally. For the first child, the maximum amount per year increases by €750 and for the second and subsequent children by a maximum of €883 per year. For children aged 12 to 15 and aged 16 and 17, the amount increases by a maximum of €400. The additional child budget for single parents (the so-called single parent budget) will be reduced by €619 per year. The income limit above which parent couples no longer receive a child-related budget will be reduced by € 11,111.
The maximum hourly prices for childcare will also increase by 2.95% on top of the regular increase of approximately 6%. This means that the maximum hourly price for day care is € 10.25 for after-school care
€9.12 and for childcare €7.53.
SLIM scheme adjusted
The government continues to promote individual training for people. That is why the SLIM scheme, a subsidy aimed at encouraging learning and development in SMEs, is being adjusted.
Build up pension
Employees who work at a place with a pension scheme build up a pension from the age of 18. Now it is from the age of 21.
State pension age
The state pension age partly increases with life expectancy from 66 years and ten months to 67 years.
Emergency energy fund
People with a high energy bill and a lower income can apply to the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund. This will open in January. People with a low income (up to 130% social minimum) can apply for support if they spend 8 percent of their income on their energy bill. People with a low middle income (up to 200% social minimum) can apply for support if they spend 10 percent of their income on their energy bill. The Emergency Fund then pays the remainder of the energy bill above this 8% or 10% of the income.
Free school meals
There will also be free school meals in 2024 for students who need it most. This concerns students from schools where at least 30% or more of the students come from a family with a low income. All students in primary education, secondary education, special education and practical education are eligible. More than 1,600 schools now participate in the free school meals. Next year, 400,000 children will receive a school meal, thanks to the efforts of the Youth Education Fund and the Red Cross. These parties will also take up implementation in 2024. The free school meals program will also be continued in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2024.
Multilingual childcare
Childcare centers may offer multilingual daycare from February 1, 2024. This means that childcare may be offered in German, English or French for a maximum of 50% of the daily care time. Out-of-school care has been allowed to be offered multilingually for some time.
Allowance for single earners
About 6,500 households that unintentionally have a lower income than people on social assistance benefits will receive compensation in the course of 2024. They receive this money through their municipality. This concerns households where one of the partners has a UWV benefit and the other partner has little or no income. The allowance does not count towards the collective income of these people. So it has no consequences for their allowances.