Heating allowance: 1.3 million beneficiaries will receive €500 million

In the coming week, the Joint Ministerial Decision is expected to be issued, which will specify the terms and conditions for the granting of the heating allowance, the payment of which will begin shortly before Christmas and will be completed at the end of April 2023.

The total amount to be made available amounts to €500 million, including the 25 cents per litre subsidy at the pump, a measure that will initially apply until the end of the year, without excluding the possibility of extending it if circumstances require it.

The beneficiaries of the benefit this year are about 1.3 million households, while last year it was slightly less than 900 thousand, and this is because the assets have been expanded, and the basis for the property criterion will also increase, due to the increase in property values. The maximum amount a household can receive is EUR 800, up from EUR 750 last year, and the minimum is EUR 100, the same as last year.

It should be noted that this year it is planned to grant a double amount for those who will return to heating oil from another heating fuel (gas or electricity). However, last year's income criteria will apply to them.

Let's look at the criteria that will apply for this year:

1. The income limit is €16,000 for a single person.

2. EUR 24,000 for a married person, plus EUR 3,000 for each dependent child.

3. The property criteria are probably increased to 200,000 euro property value for unmarried persons, while it will remain at 300,000 euro property value for married persons.

However, if someone wants to receive double the amount, the criterion is 14,000 euros for an unmarried person and 20,000 euros for a married person.

The first instalment, which will concern the old beneficiaries, will be granted, around 10 December, after the submission of the relevant application to myhealth by the end of November.

This will be followed by the payment of new beneficiaries who apply by 15 December and the payment will be made at the end of the same month.

The dates and timetable for the granting of the heating allowance are as follows:

• The EIS will be issued by the end of October at the latest, clarifying the terms, conditions, income and property criteria. It is noted that the heating allowance ranges from 100 to 800 euros, while those who give up gas the allowance is doubled and reaches up to 1,600 euros.

• In the last 10 days of November the electronic platform myThermal of the Hellenic Public Revenue Service for the submission of applications will come into operation.

• Last year's beneficiaries will have to apply until 30 November 2022 in order to receive the advance payment of the heating allowance.

• Until 10 December 2022, the advance payment of the allowance will be paid to those who received an allowance last year and purchased oil.

• 15 December 2022 is the deadline for the submission of applications to myhealth by beneficiaries.

• By 30 December 2022, new beneficiaries will be paid for all purchases invoiced, provided that the required data are registered by 15 December 2022.

• By 28 February 2023, payments will be made for all purchases invoiced by 31 January 2023 and subject to the registration of the required data by 15 February 2023.

• Finally, by 28 April 2023, payments will be made for all purchases invoiced by 31 March 2023 and subject to the registration of the required data by 14 April 2023.

Finally, it should be noted that the beneficiaries are required to submit a total of fuel purchase documents worth twice the amount of the allowance.

Thanasis Papadis