News item | 06-12-2023 | 13:05
This is a press release from the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund.
The Temporary Energy Emergency Fund will open for the second time in 2024 to help households with a lower income and a high energy bill. Compared to 2023, people will be eligible for help earlier: people with a low income (up to 130% social minimum) can apply for support if they spend 8% of their income on their energy bill. In 2023 this was 10%. For people with a low middle income (up to 200% social minimum), this limit is 10% of the income, instead of 13% last year.
The Emergency Fund also takes several measures to improve accessibility and services. The Emergency Fund wants to ensure that it is easier for households to submit an application and that processing times are shortened. The Emergency Fund wants to ensure that more households are able to apply independently.
In 2023, more than 50,000 households will have received support from the Emergency Fund. A total of 43.7 million euros was paid out. Energy suppliers, Budget Energy, Essent, ENGIE, Eneco, Greenchoice, Innova, Pure Energie, Vattenfall and Vrij op Naam, and the central government have pledged support to the fund for the coming year with a total contribution of 60 million euros.
How do you qualify?
To be eligible for support, the amount of the energy bill will be examined in relation to the income in the coming year. The following households can receive support from the Emergency Fund:
- The household has a gross income of a maximum of 200% of the social minimum. The amounts include 8% holiday pay and exclude surcharges.
- Households have an energy contract for gas, electricity and/or district heating with an energy supplier. The bill is (depending on income) higher than 8 to 10% of the joint gross income.
- The Emergency Fund pays the part of the monthly energy bill that is more than 8 to 10% of the joint gross income of a household.
- A household can apply for a contribution for the following 6 months.
- The exact conditions will be explained when it reopens in January.
To request
The Emergency Fund has been preparing for the reopening since the decision-making by the government and energy suppliers in September. The application procedure has been under development since then. On the Emergency Fund website Interested parties can register in advance to be immediately informed as soon as the Emergency Fund opens. The Emergency Fund is expected to open in January 2024 and you can apply until the end of March 2024.