1200 PLN electricity subsidy for 5 years. Government prepares energy voucher

• The government is working on solutions to compensate the poorest for the increase in energy costs.
• Only pensioners with income not exceeding PLN 2,525 gross will be able to count on financial support.
• An energy voucher would protect them from going into debt and being deprived of electricity.

The government is working on solutions to compensate for the increase in energy costs following the introduction of the new carbon dioxide emission fee (ETS2) , which is also to be charged to households. One solution will be an energy voucher, which pensioners with the lowest incomes will be able to apply for.

"Although the government is seeking to postpone the introduction of the ETS2 system, which assumes the introduction of a new fee for carbon dioxide emissions, which will also be charged to households, it is preparing an emergency plan" - writes Fakt.pl.

On Friday, June 6, the Ministry of Funds presented the Socio-Climate Plan , a document that outlines the principles of the new support.

"The actions will consist of providing people eligible for support based on the criteria specified for the program with a voucher to cover the energy and heating costs incurred by the household. These measures are intended to support the most vulnerable households, which will be most affected by changes in energy costs, enabling them to adapt to changing market conditions," we read in a government document.

The qualification mechanism will take into account income criteria, age criteria and living in a building with an individual energy source powered by fossil fuels , which will allow for more effective reaching of those in real need.

According to the daily , the voucher will be available if the income does not exceed PLN 2,525 gross . The aid is to be directed to people who:

• have reached retirement age - 60 for women and 65 for men,
• they do not have high income,
• they live in buildings that have their own heat source powered by fossil fuels, i.e. coal and heating oil.

The government is to allocate about PLN 24 billion for the energy voucher. The average support for a household is to amount to PLN 1,200 per year. The first payments are planned for 2027. Seniors would receive the money in installments - once a quarter for a period of 5 years .

As reported by "Fakt", the energy voucher would protect pensioners from debt and disconnection from the electricity supply. The Social Insurance Institution will handle the payment of the energy voucher. This is where seniors would submit applications.