It is often difficult for older people to apply for an energy allowance. The steps that must be taken before the allowance is arranged are often too complicated. In addition, the language in the reporting on energy surcharge is often too difficult. The General Dutch Association for the Elderly (ANBO) therefore assists the elderly in applying for the allowance.
Some elderly people are not aware that they are entitled to an energy allowance. Elderly people who know this, but do not understand how to apply for the allowance, sometimes even leave the allowance for what it is.
“We’re not even in winter yet, but the monthly amount is already going up. This is going to cause problems for me,” says Marlies Stiphout from Coevorden. She found out through someone that she might be entitled to an energy allowance, but soon came home from a cold fair. She had to print and fill out all kinds of forms for the application.
She then contacted the ANBO, where volunteer Leo Sakko came to her aid. “Making a copy is often a problem, because if you are not that skilled digitally, you just have to see that you can get a copy with the form and then send it back to the municipality,” says Sakko.
Sakko sees that there is a lot of ignorance about the energy surcharge. “People hear a lot about the energy allowance in the media, but they don’t realize whether they are entitled to it or not.”
If an elderly person is asked about the energy allowance, he or she will not always have an answer ready. Then that ignorance quickly turns into shame, Sakko knows. “I meet quite a lot of people who do not talk about it easily. If you then ask someone whether they are entitled to an energy allowance or whether they have already applied for it, people do not always want to answer that either. I will not ask further questions, because If people don’t want to talk about it, I’m not going to force it.”
In addition to the fact that the elderly find things that need to be arranged digitally difficult, the language in which information about benefits is formulated is often too complicated. Stiphout would like to see the information no longer in so-called official language. “If the forms are easier, it will of course be easier to apply.”
Sakko visits the elderly more often to apply for benefits and sees that many elderly people have difficulty with complex formulations. “They are afraid of complicated questions, which they will not be able to solve. Then they leave the entire allowance alone, because they do not understand it anyway.”
Stiphout would like to see things change quickly in the reporting. “I would like simple questions in the application forms from the municipality. I always call it Jip-en-Janneketaal. Then as many people as possible can enjoy the energy allowance.”