MaPrimeRénov’, tariff shield, energy voucher, wood voucher: never have so many subsidies been granted for heating or thermally renovating one’s home. Never has it been so complicated to find oneself in the maquis of aid.
A study published in October, by the University of Grenoble-Alpes, shows the strong ignorance by the households concerned of the aid to which they might claim. “We have to rethink everything, aid for buildings, heating, and the energy mix, because the current aid system is a gas plant”, denounces Nadia Ziane, of the consumer association Familles Rurales.
MaPrimeRenov’
The MaPrimeRénov systemset up in 2020, and on which the government communicates a lot, was severely criticized at the end of October for “rare recurring technical malfunctions” in a report by the Defender of Rights, the independent authority headed by Claire Hédon, which is awash in claims.
While the National Housing Agency (Anah), which pilots the system, ensures that the average time for examining files is 15 working days, many cases drag on for months. This is what happened to Pierre Gentil-Perret, an 81-year-old retiree living in Savigneux, in the Loire. For the exterior insulation of his house, the payment of the bonus of 4,000 euros promised at the beginning of 2021 only took place a year and a half later, in September 2022.
People often fail to complete very complicated online files with incredible data requests
In question, the whole computer and the absence of human interlocutor. “My file, initially accepted, ended up being rejected” for a purely administrative date story and “I never had anyone to talk to at Anah,” he told AFP. When the file was reopened in May – following referral to the Defender of Rights – he also had to change his bank account: his file had been opened in the name of Mr., and the payment was not possible on an account at name of “Mr and Mrs”. “I should have given up, but I held on,” said Mr. Gentil-Perret.
“Often people fail to fill in the very complicated online files, with incredible data requests, and following a while, it’s too late, they can no longer claim the promised help” , summarizes Virginie Durin, of Families of France, and “the ordeal leaves them bitter and in great distress”.
In 2021, according to a report drawn up by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), 650,000 MaPrimeRénov’ files were accepted, with an average premium amount of 3,000 euros. Aid is granted subject to means testing.
Tariff shield
Tariff blocking is the blocking by the State of gas and electricity prices at their levels of last winter, with an upward review in 2023, less than that of market prices. But subscribers to certain alternative energy suppliers had to return to EDF to take advantage of it.
In addition, if these frozen rates automatically apply to individuals, this is not the case for condominiums or social housing, which only receive aid following the fact. This aid, moreover, does not necessarily cover all the increases in bills for these collective dwellings.
Energy check
The energy check was introduced in 2018 to replace the social tariffs for gas and electricity. It is usually paid once a year, in the spring, subject to means testing to 5.8 million low-income households, up to 148 euros on average. But in 2019, 25% of households who received this check had not used it, mainly due to ignorance.
With the crisis, the government added two additional exceptional checks (100 euros in December 2021; and from 100 to 200 euros at the end of 2022, this time for 12 million households).
“People under-consume social aid that is too complicated. For these social heating aids, it would be better if they were automatic through an increase in APL for example, it would be more fluid and efficient”, estimates François Carlier, general delegate of the consumer association CLCV.
Fuel check, wood check
Fuel checks and wood checks were announced at the end of 2022 to correct oversights in the tariff shield.
The fuel check will be paid subject to means testing. It must amount to 200 euros paid in one go to households earning less than 10,800 euros per year, and 100 euros for those earning between 10,800 and 20,000 euros. 1.6 million households will benefit from it out of the 2.8 million that heat with oil.
For those who warm themselves with wood, a specific check is also announced, of an equivalent overall cost (around 230 million euros). Gabriel Attal gave more details this Sunday, November 27 in The Parisian.
