Heating allowance: What now applies to the subsidy

An unsolvable puzzle for the government seems to be what will happen to the heating subsidy as expanding the list of subsidized fuels beyond oil clearly complicates the process

Contrary to previous years, This year, the government will subsidize not only the purchase of oil and the use of natural gas, but also pellets and firewood.

The key question raised on the basis of the above is «based on which documents.». 

For firewood and pellets in settlements with a population of less than 2,500 inhabitants in mountainous areas, it has become known that Proof of purchase paid for with plastic money will be required. 

For natural gas, the method is still being sought, while for oil, as was the case last year, consumers will be required to purchase at least twice the amount corresponding to the subsidy by the end of the season.

Given these facts, the ministerial decision being drafted by the staff of Deputy Minister Apostolos Vesyropoulos is expected within the next week and, according to information, The goal is for the electronic platform to open no later than December 22. . 

The economic team has not changed its intention to pay out most of this year's €84 million subsidy by the end of the year.

The aim is to «warm up» the fuel market, which, in terms of heating oil, is now experiencing the other side of the coin of stockpiling, which households proceeded with last spring when black gold prices were low.

The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service, has established a new system this year for calculating heating allowances based on the climatic conditions in each region, following the climate «division» of the country into 200,000 sections.

Each «part» corresponds to a coefficient that will be multiplied by the maximum allowance and will result in the allowance to which each household is entitled. A cold index is thus formed, a barometer for the amount of the allowance in every corner of Greece.

Income and asset criteria remain unchanged from last year, and the minimum allowance remains at €80.

However, the maximum amount is expected to increase from €350 to €700.
Depending on the final decisions, it is possible that the total budget will increase from the €84 million currently allocated to €90-94 million. .

According to what has been announced so far by the Department of the Treasury , The criteria for granting the heating subsidy remain unchanged from the previous season and relate to property and income.

Income Criteria: Annual total family income up to €12,000 for unmarried taxpayers or taxpayers who are widowed or separated, and €20,000 for married taxpayers or taxpayers who are widowed or divorced.000 euros for unmarried taxpayers or taxpayers who are widowed or separated, and 20,000 euros for married taxpayers or those in a civil partnership, which is increased by 2,000 euros for each child. For single-parent families, the income is €22,000, which is increased by €2,000 for each child after the first.

Real Estate: The total value of real estate, as determined for the calculation of the supplementary EN.F.I.A., It must not exceed €130,000 for unmarried persons, widowed persons, or persons who are legally separated, and €250,000 for married persons, persons in a civil partnership, and single-parent families.