Cuts to Elterngeld
Elterngeld (or parental allowance), which mothers and fathers receive as a partial wage replacement benefit while staying home after the birth of a child, is to be reduced in scope from April onwards.
Going forward families with a high income level will no longer be eligible for the benefit. Instead it will be limited to single parents and couples who have a taxable annual income of €175,000 or less.
This new limit applies to children born on or after April 1st this year.
Trial period begins for digital vehicle registration documents
A test run for digital vehicle registration documents will begin in April.
From the beginning of the month, interested motorists will be able to test an app developed jointly by the Federal Motor Transport Authority and the Federal Printing Office.
The app allows user to show their vehicle registration documents on their smartphone. If it proves successful, drivers would no longer need to obtain and keep a physical copy of these documents in their vehicles.
New questions added to the theoretical driving test
Speaking of driving, anyone who wants to get a driver's license will face a slightly revised list of questions on the theory test from April 1st.
Some questions have been deleted due to legal changes while others have been added.
DPA reported that questions on turning right, on right of way regulations at intersections, and on certain traffic signs have been changed, for example.
The official list of the potential questions used for drivers' licence theory tests in Germany is changed every six months. A significant change to the questions was made in April of last year.
LISTED: The non-EU countries that have drivers licence exchange agreements with Germany
Electronic Travel Authorisation required for travel to Great Britain
Anyone who wants to travel to the UK from countries without visa requirements, such as Germany and other EU states, will need an electronic travel authorization (ETA) in addition to their passport starting in April.
According to the British Home Office, the new regulation will apply to Europeans from April 2nd, 2025.Â
An ETA costs 10 pounds (roughly €12) and must be renewed after two years at the latest.
READ ALSO: ETA application glitch bars entry to UK for some British dual-nationals
Electronic patient records on the horizon
A trial run for the electronic patient record (ePA) has been running since January 15th, so far only in three regions with around 300 participating practices.
In mid-March, the majority federally owned digital agency Gematik wants to check whether the system is stable and can be introduced nationwide. If the agency gives a positive verdict, this could be possible from April.
For patients who don't opt out of the system, all of their health records such as X-rays, doctor's letters and laboratory results would be stored in the ePA.
The system is intended to make it easier for different medical practices and pharmacies to more easily share and review patients' files.
According to the plans of the Federal Ministry of Health, every insurance patient in Germany is to receive the ePA – unless they object.
READ ALSO:Â The big healthcare changes in Germany in 2025
Easter holidays from April 18th to the 21st
Workers in Germany can enjoy two public holidays in April: Good Friday on April 18th and Easter Monday on the 21st.
Easter Sunday, of course, falls between the two on April 20th this year.
If you want a bit more of a vacation than the four day weekend, you could request off April 14th to the 17th to effectively have a 10 day block off - from Saturday April 12th until Monday the 21st.
Note that most businesses - including supermarkets - will be closed on the public holidays on Friday and Monday, in addition to Sunday as usual. You'd be advised to stock up on everything you need for the holiday weekend ahead of time, as shops are typically extra busy on the Saturday in between.
READ ALSO: What's open and closed in Germany over the Easter weekend?
Germany set to get a new coalition government
Germany's incoming chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, has repeatedly said he wants to form a new government "by Easter", meaning before Sunday, April 20th.
That would be a markedly fast formation of a new coalition government for Germany, but so far leaders of the conservative CDU/CSU parties and from the Social Democrats (SPD) have demonstrated their ability to move quickly, having already begun coalition talks and brought fourth a radical new spending proposal.
According to an internal document leaked in the German press on Tuesday, the CDU wants to sign off on a coalition agreement in the week of the 14th.Â
If all goes to plan, Germany could officially elect Friedrich Merz as Chancellor as soon as April 23rd.
TIMELINE: How soon will Germany get a new government?
Wage increases for certain craft workers
According to a report by Bonn's General Anzeiger newspaper, some craft workers can expect a salary increase from April.
In the construction industry, wages are to rise by 4.2 percent in the west and by five percent in the east. This is to apply to workers in building construction, civil engineering or road construction.
Comments