As of today, households with a lower income and a relatively high energy bill can turn to the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund. The Emergency Fund pays part of the energy bill for households that are eligible for support during the six months after their application. The payment is made via the energy supplier. Households can now apply for support from the Emergency Fund at www.noodfondsenergie.nl.
Energy suppliers Budget Energie, Eneco, ENGIE, Essent, Greenchoice, Innova, Pure Energie, Vattenfall and Vrij op Naam, and the central government have pledged support to the fund for next year with a total contribution of 60 million euros.
The Emergency Fund looks at how high the energy bill is compared to the combined income of the household. If the energy bill is more than 8 or 10%* of the income, the Emergency Fund will pay the remainder of the energy bill through the energy suppliers. It does not matter which supplier the household has. Compared to last year, more people are eligible.
The initiators have asked Lodewijk Asscher to act as representative of the Emergency Fund again this year. ‘The stress of energy poverty affects many people. With the Emergency Fund we want to offer people more financial breathing space. The need for this will also be great in 2024: more than 30,000 people have indicated their interest via the site prior to the reopening.’ says Asscher. 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.
Who is the Energy Emergency Fund for? The Emergency Fund has taken several measures to improve accessibility and service provision. In this way, the Emergency Fund wants to ensure that more households are able to apply independently and that processing times are shortened. Households can check the Emergency Fund website to see whether they are eligible for support from the Emergency Fund.
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. In concrete terms, this amounts to 3,200 euros (single) and 4,480 euros (cohabiting). 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 energy bill is (depending on income) higher than 8 to 10% of the joint gross income: For people up to 130% of the social minimum higher than 8% of the joint gross income, or for people up to 200% social minimum higher than 10%
- The Emergency Fund pays the remainder of the monthly energy bill above this 8 to 10% of the joint gross income of a household.
Where can you apply for support? The Emergency Fund application can be made at www.noodfondsenergie.nl. Households can go there to submit the application via computer or via the app. Family members, friends or care providers can also submit the application for someone else via an authorization. You can submit an application until March 31, 2024. Households with questions can contact the national emergency fund helpline.
*Your joint gross income is up to 130% of the social minimum and the energy bill is higher than 8% of the joint gross income, or your joint gross income is up to 200% of the social minimum and the energy bill is higher than 10 % of the joint gross income.
