Energy costs: Traffic light agrees on doubling the heating cost subsidy

Energy costs: Traffic light agrees on doubling the heating cost subsidy

Energy prices have recently risen significantly and are causing concern in many households. The federal government now wants to increase the subsidy for housing benefit recipients.

Housing benefit recipients and many students and trainees should receive a significantly higher subsidy for heating costs than previously planned.

According to information from the German Press Agency, the traffic light factions agreed on Wednesday to double prices because of the skyrocketing prices in the wake of the Ukraine war. A resolution to this effect was passed in the building committee in the morning.

There should be support for recipients of housing benefit, for students with student loans, recipients of ascent student loans and vocational training grants. Recipients of housing benefit who live alone receive 270 euros, two-person households 350 euros. For each additional roommate, another 70 euros are provided. Students, trainees and other beneficiaries receive a flat rate of 230 euros.

According to earlier information, around 2.1 million citizens, such as pensioners, single parents or people who earn little, will benefit from this. They should get the money transferred directly to their account without an application.

SPD faction vice Verena Hubertz justified the increase with the price development for energy and heat. “We know that low-income households in particular are suffering from rising energy prices,” she told the dpa. “But nobody should have to live in a cold apartment, so we’re launching the grant this week.” It is to be decided on Thursday in the Bundestag.

Hubertz said she expects a payment by the end of the year at the latest when the utility bills are due. However, further relief steps would have to follow, for example for families who were not entitled to housing benefit and for companies that suffered from high energy prices.

Source: Stern

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