Students Niels Telman and Laura Scheper from Groningen react cynically to the news that there will now be an energy surcharge for students living away from home. But not for everyone. “The group that had nothing and received nothing will now also receive nothing.”
On Monday, Minister Carola Schouten (Poverty Reduction) announced that there will be an energy supplement for students after all. It concerns 400 euros for the next academic year. But only students who receive a supplementary grant and live in rooms are eligible for the allowance.
“That’s great!” Niels responds cynically. “So this energy allowance only applies to people who will receive a supplementary grant next year? Well, that is also possible for everyone who received nothing, no basic grant and no energy allowance. And that too after the paltry compensation for everyone who has built up a student debt because the basic grant has been abolished. I had honestly thought and hoped that the energy surcharge might be another possibility for this government to compensate for that group of students who didn’t get anything. But they don’t even do that.”
Laura Scheper reacts similarly. ,,Crazy! So people with a supplementary grant, who already receive more than the group of students who received nothing from this government, will now receive even more?”
Three students are taking Groningen to court
Students such as Laura and Niels fought all the way to court for a – then still one-off – energy allowance of 1300 euros for low-income households. The energy bill for students also rose enormously last year, but they were excluded as a group by municipalities because they usually do not live independently. Also through Groningen, where there is a fear that the municipality will have to transfer that allowance to thousands of students. The national government does not provide municipalities with money for this group.
Three Groningen students did not accept this. In proceedings on the merits, they still demanded a surcharge, because in their view excluding an entire group would be discrimination. The judge’s ruling has been delayed and is expected soon.
Low-income parents
The cabinet now gives prospective students with a supplementary grant a supplement, which is paid through DUO. It is not yet known when the money to compensate for the increased cost of energy will be in their account. The supplementary grant is intended for students whose parents have a relatively low income.
The allowance does not apply to students who take longer to complete their studies and are therefore no longer entitled to the performance-related grant. DUO does not know whether they live independently or still live with their parents. “In the coming period, the cabinet will make an ultimate attempt to find out how it can accommodate the increased energy costs for students who need it,” the Ministry of Social Affairs said.
Allowance
The energy allowance that currently applies to some of the students is lower than the 1300 euros that non-students with a low income can claim from their municipality. Previously, students could not claim this higher allowance.
But in Amsterdam the court ruled that students were wrongly excluded and in Utrecht the municipality itself decided to grant a number of students the allowance of 1300 euros. According to the cabinet, the finances of students are “a shared responsibility of the government, parents, and the students themselves”.
This year, low-income households can again apply for the supplement of 1300 euros, as was announced last year. Some municipalities increased the amount by 500 euros last year, so that residents could also bridge the first half of 2023. These municipalities can still pay 800 euros this year.
Laura and Niels have now found a job and will soon graduate.