Municipalities receive too little money from the government to provide all poor households with 800 euros in energy compensation. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) confirms this after a report from Nieuwsuur. It was previously announced that municipalities distribute the energy allowance according to different rulespartly due to lack of money.
According to the VNG, the government has taken into account 800,000 poor households who will receive 800 euros (640 million), plus 37 million in benefit costs. The government defines poor households as people with an income of up to 120 percent of the social minimum (the amount the government says you need as a minimum to live). However, that is much more than 800,000. According to VNG, this concerns more than 950,000 households. This means that the current budget that has been released is not sufficient to provide all poor households with 800 euros in energy compensation.
Compensation plans expanded after war in Ukraine
At the end of last year, the cabinet announced that households with a small wallet would receive a supplement of 200 euros to pay the sky-high energy bill. Since then, gas prices have only increased further, partly due to the war in Ukraine. That is why the cabinet decided to increase the amount to 800 euros.
Minister for Poverty Reduction: amount of 800 euros is leading
Minister Carola Schouten (Poverty Reduction) wants all eligible families to be able to receive the one-off energy allowance. The amount of 800 euros is ‘leading’ in this respect. She calls on municipalities to simply pay that money out. If they notice ‘that it doesn’t fit’, Schouten wants to talk to them about it.
The minister points out that the number of 800,000 was determined last year in consultation with VNG. According to her, it was assumed that municipalities would not be able to reach all poor families.
Source: ANP
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