15 Feb 2024 at 11:04
Energy suppliers and the government are investing extra millions in the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund. More than 85,000 people have already applied for support because they have a low income and a high energy bill. The extra money can help more households.
Energy suppliers invest an additional 8 million euros in the fund and the central government supplements this amount with another 16 million euros. This makes a total of 84 million euros available. The extra money can help another 38,000 households.
Although the energy bill for many households is lower at the beginning of this year than a year ago, a group of households remains in energy poverty. They have high energy costs because, for example, they live in a poorly insulated home and do not always have the money to do something about it.
In 2023, 53,000 households were helped with the Emergency Fund, for a total of 43.7 million euros. Then the income requirements were somewhat stricter than this year.
Of all 85,000 applications, a quarter have now been rejected, often because not a large enough part of the income is spent on energy. Households receive the contribution from the Emergency Fund through their energy supplier, who ensures a lower energy bill.
Large part of income goes to energy
To be eligible for the Emergency Fund, a household consisting of one person may have a gross income of up to 3,200 euros per month, for cohabitants the limit is 4,480 euros (including holiday pay, excluding allowances).
If the energy bill is more than 8 percent (for very low incomes) or 10 percent (for low incomes) of the income, you can appeal to the Emergency Fund. Everything above those percentages will then be reimbursed by the Emergency Fund. So far, this amounts to an average of 105 euros per month per household.
The government wants to work with energy suppliers to look at a plan to help low incomes and middle incomes in the longer term, for example through sustainability. Outgoing Minister Carola Schouten (Poverty Policy) announced this in a letter.
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2024-02-15 10:04:47
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