It is now official: the Belgian federal government decided, at the end of yet another energy kern last Friday, to helping Belgian households during the winter of 2022. In concrete terms, a maximum amount of 196 euros will be deducted from energy bills for these months of November and December 2022, for a total of 392 euros in aid, provided certain conditions are met. All in order to deal with the energy crisis, while more and more Belgians (households, businesses, self-employed) are wondering how they will be able to pay their gas and electricity bills. Here is everything you need to know regarding this one-off aid, the famous “reduced price energy package”.
Government energy aid: How much?
The aid will take the form of a rebate on the invoice, of 135 euros for gas and 61 euros for electricity. All for the months of November and December 2022. That is a total of 392 euros maximum, during the winter of 2022. And for 2023? For the moment, nothing has been decidedthe government will reassess the need to support households longer in the heart of winter.
Who will be able to receive this aid and what type of energy contract must be in place to benefit from it?
Everyone… a priori. To be eligible for the €135 deduction on gas and €61 on electricity, you must of course have taken out contracts for the supply of this type of energy. If you do not have gas at home (and you heat with electricity or wood, for example), you are unfortunately not eligible for government assistance on gas. Another filter put in place: the type of energy contract for each household. Thus, the measure will apply to all variable contracts, as well as to fixed contracts concluded or renewed following October 1, 2021. If you have a fixed-rate energy contract concluded before this date, you will not be helped. But, if this is the case, it should be remembered that you are protected by far cheaper rates than those currently in force on the energy market. Above all, do not modify your contract, even with government assistance, you would be very largely losers.
Can we receive the “reduced price energy package”, regardless of our income?
Yes and no. There is indeed an exclusion measure for those with well-off incomes. But the determined threshold is very high: you must have an annual net taxable income of more than 62,000 euros if you are isolated, and a combined income of a maximum of 125,000 euros for households, plus 3,700 euros per child or dependent in the household. foyer. In all, 85% of Belgian households will therefore benefit from government aid. What regarding the others, the richest 15%? As such, they too will receive the aid in November and December as well. Only difference in size: this aid will be, for them and for them alone, taxed in the form of a taxable benefit. They will therefore be taxed on it, and will have to return part of it to the Inland Revenue during the next fiscal year. The objective of the Vivaldi, to help mainly the middle class, is therefore met here. As a reminder, for the most precarious, the extended social tariff has been extended until March 2023. Finally, everyone will still benefit, until March 2023 at least, from a reduction in VAT to 6% on energy.
What steps will you have to take to benefit from the €392 aid?
The reductions will be automatically applied by your energy supplier for your monthly installment bills for November and December 2022. There are therefore no steps to take on your side, no form to fill out.
What if you have an oil or propane tank?
In this case, aid in the form of check goes from 225 euros (already paid for most households) to 300 euros. If you have already received the first check for 225 euros, you will only receive the difference of 75 euros.
