The 9-euro ticket and the fuel discount start, just like the school holidays in a federal state, but sick leave on the phone ends and Internet Explorer is retired, but festivals can be visited again. This and other things await you in the new month.
First federal state starts in school holidays
For millions of students, the school year is drawing to a close. The children and young people in North Rhine-Westphalia are the first to start their summer holidays: their last day of school is June 24th. The summer holidays in Berlin begin on July 7th. Bavaria is the last federal state to start on July 29th. By August 9th, all students in Germany will be on vacation.
The first digital vaccination certificates are about to expire
Digital vaccination certificates for twice vaccinated persons issued in pharmacies on June 14, 2021 will become invalid on June 14 of this year. Anyone who uses an app (Corona-Warn-App, Covpass-App) for verification will be warned by it. For those who have been boosted, the vaccination certificate has so far been unlimited.
Colorant titanium dioxide in food is banned
The white dye titanium dioxide, which is contained in many foods, is banned there. This is suspected of causing cancer. However, the dye is also found in medicines or sunscreen. Which is why consumer advocates are also demanding a ban for these areas of application.
Holidays in June
Monday, June 6th is a national holiday (Pentecost). Those who work in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate or Saarland can also celebrate Corpus Christi on Thursday, June 16th. Read here how you can get more days off by using bridging days.
Festival season started
After no festivals could take place in Germany in the last two years due to the corona pandemic, rocking can now take place again. It starts on June 3rd with the twin festivals "Rock im Park" in Nuremberg and "Rock am Ring" in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Tank discount started
As a measure of the federal government's relief package to compensate for the sharp rise in energy and fuel prices for citizens, refueling is to become cheaper from June 1st to August 31st. This is made possible by reducing the energy tax on fuels to the minimum permitted in the EU. The tax rate for petrol will fall by almost 30 cents and for diesel by a good 14 cents. In addition, value added tax is no longer due on the part of the energy tax that has been omitted. The total tax relief is 35.2 cents per liter of petrol and 16.7 cents per liter of diesel. After all. However, it should not be forgotten that fuel prices were already at record levels before the Ukraine war. All detailed information on the subject can be found here.
Heating allowance for low earners
Low-income households are to be given a helping hand when heating costs have risen sharply. The federal government wants to spend a total of around 370 million euros for a double heating cost subsidy. On June 1st, a corresponding law will come into force, which will remain valid until May 31st, 2023. For those entitled to housing benefit (these can be pensioners, single parents or low earners), the one-time subsidy should be 270 euros (one household member taken into account). Two-person households should receive 350 euros. An additional 70 euros are added for each additional household member to be taken into account.
In addition to housing benefit recipients, trainees and students should also benefit from a subsidy of 230 euros, provided they receive state student loans. A total of 2.1 million people are to receive a one-time heating subsidy. The subsidy is to be transferred directly to the account of the beneficiary.
Internet Explorer is retired
For June 15th, the Microsoft company declares the end of support for the last major version of its Internet Explorer 11, the last major version of Internet Explorer for June 15th. The website states: "Starting June 15, 2022, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will no longer be supported on certain versions of Windows 10." However, nostalgic users can also open apps and websites they currently use with Internet Explorer 11 in Microsoft Edge via IE mode, according to the company. The integrated "IE mode" will therefore be supported until at least 2029.
Sick leave on the phone ends
The special regulation, which made it possible to get a doctor's note on sick leave due to the corona pandemic in the event of a mild illness of the upper respiratory tract, ends on May 31st. Anyone who feels malade now has to come back to the practice in person from June 1st. However, doctors can still issue patients with a certificate of incapacity for work in a video consultation.
9 euro ticket usable
From June 1st, the bus and (regional) train could get full. Because from this point on, the 9-euro ticket can be used. This is also part of the relief package. With the discounted monthly ticket for 9 euros, local public transport can be used. It is valid for one month until August 31 for buses, S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains and trams. But regional trains can also be used with it and then nationwide. But be careful, so far it has been the case that not all regional trains can be used cheaply with the ticket. You can read all the detailed information on the subject here.
Summer train timetable comes into effect
From June 12th, the summer timetable will apply to Deutsche Bahn and other transport companies. From this date, the train will again offer a direct connection between Berlin and the North Sea island of Sylt. After a decade and a half, Chemnitz is reconnected to the long-distance network and has direct connections to Berlin and the Baltic Sea.
(This article was first published on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.)
