Overview

• Pensions for retirees will increase by 2.2% in 2025, reflecting inflation, after the government failed to pass a proposed budget that included smaller increases.
• All RSA beneficiaries must now commit to 15-20 hours of weekly activities under a new engagement contract, with non-compliance potentially leading to aid suspension.
• Rental of properties with the lowest energy efficiency rating (class G) is now prohibited, with stricter rules set to expand to other classifications in future years.
• The use of restaurant vouchers in supermarkets is restricted to ready-to-eat items, reversing a pandemic-era policy that allowed broader use.
• Everyday costs are rising, including gas prices, postage rates, public transport fares, and tobacco products, while the interest rate for new housing savings plans drops to 1.75%.