On February 1, 2023, regulated electricity tariffs will increase by 15%. If your income does not allow you to bear this price increase, means-tested aid exists.
Regulated electricity prices will rise by 15% on February 1, one month after a similar jump for gas prices. And if this increase will be the only one for the whole of 2023, it will weigh on the budget of the most modest households. According to government estimates alone, households affected by this double increase could pay 45euros more each month despite the application of the tariff shield. The fact remains that aid, allocated subject to means testing, does exist.
1-The exceptional energy check
To counter the rise in household energy expenditure, the government has rolled out an exceptional energy check which supplements the traditional check for a maximum value of 277 euros, sent each spring to nearly 6 million households. An amount minimum of 100 euros for a couple with two children with a net income of 3,000 euros, for example, it continues to be sent at the end of January. In total, 12 million households are affected. It is valid until March 2024.
2-The energy check
The classic energy check is an aid that varies from 48euros to 277euros, depending on your reference tax income and the composition of your household. Only 66.6% of beneficiaries had used their 2022 check in August. If you are one of those who have not yet spent their energy check, you have until March 31 to do so.
Check energy: the bar
Reference tax income | RFR between 5600 and 6999 euros | RFR between 6700 and 7700 euros | RFR between 7700 and 10800 euros | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 unit of consumption | 194 euros | 146 euros | 98 euros | 48euros |
| From 1 to 2 CUs | 240 euros | 176 euros | 113 euros | 63euros |
| 2 CUs and more | 277 euros | 202 euros | 126 euros | 76 euros |
3-An energy check for social housing tenants
Action Logement offers a maximum aid of 600 euros to tenants of social housing in order to help households in financial difficulty caused by the increase in the cost of energy. The organization estimates that this bonus could be granted to 75,000 households out of the 10 million tenants in the HLM sector.
To benefit from it, you must be a tenant, salaried or unsalaried, of social housing, have a increase in charges of more than 100 euros per month or face a regularization of charges of more than 1000 euros over the last 12 months. Finally, the rest to live on per person and per day must be less than 15 euros.
Individuals eligible for assistance can contact their social landlord to compile the file. This service has been operational since December 12.
4-One fuel oil
Since November 8, 2022, the government has been paying a check of between 100 and 200 euros to households that heat with oil. It is intended, subject to income conditions, for 1.4 million households. No action is taken if you have taken advantage of the 2022 energy check to pay a fuel bill.
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If you are not in this case, you will then have to check your eligibility on the site chequeenergie.gouv.fr. If you are entitled to it, you will receive the check less than a month after sending a fuel bill.
Note that this fuel oil energy check can be combined not only with the exceptional energy check of 100,200 euros, but also with the usual energy check towards each year in the spring.
5-One each wood
Households that heat with wood are not left out. Financial aid between 50 and 200 euros is allocated to them. To obtain it, you must earn up to 2260 euros for a single person and up to 4750 euros for a couple with two children.
The steps are taken on the chequeenergie.gouv.fr website and only the teledeclarant number, used to declare your taxes online, will be requested.
What help to pay your energy bills?
First, if you have difficulty paying your bills, remember to ask the supplier to spread them to limit its burden on your finances. You may also be able to benefit from financial assistance from the housing solidarity fund (FSL). It is allocated according to your resources and can be combined with the APL for example. To check whether you can receive this aid for your electricity and gas bills, contact your departmental council, the social action center at your town hall or your family allowance fund (CAF).
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