Financial relief in the energy crisis

Information, aids and tipsfor families

Text last updated: 2023-02-13

Measures to secure an affordable energy supply

The Russian war of aggression on Ukraine is leading to massively rising prices. Gas, gasoline, food - everything is getting more expensive. Many families are under financial pressure. The German government has adopted comprehensive measures to ease the burden, some of which still have to be confirmed by the Bundesrat. Read here which financial aids have already been launched and which families and children will still be able to claim in the future.

Government action will help you get through the energy crisis

One thing first: the rising cost of living will become a growing burden for many people in the coming months. Therefore, don't be afraid to take advantage of assistance and government benefits to which you are legally entitled. The benefits are expressly intended to bridge the currently difficult situation. A retroactive claim is often not possible or only possible for a limited period of time.

The financial package adopted by the federal government includes more than 65 billion euros and provides, among other things, the following benefits.

Energy market

Energy price flat rate for employees: The energy flat rate amounts to 300 euros and was paid in September to all dependent employees in Germany. The payment was made automatically with the payroll. However, the energy flat rate is taxable. Employees whose annual income is below the tax-free amount of 10,347 euros and mini-jobbers receive the full amount. Self-employed received the energy price lump sum as a tax rebate, the tax office automatically reduces the advance tax payment for September.

Energy price lump sum for pensioners: pensioners get a one-time energy price lump sum of 300 euros. The payment is to be made by 15 December. The special payment is paid separately and not with the current pension. The payment is made automatically, an application is not required.

Energy price flat rate for students: Students and technical students receive a one-time 200 euros. The states advise how the disbursement can be made unbureaucratically and quickly.
Electricity and gas price brake:With the gas and electricity price cap citizens should be noticeably relieved of the high energy costs. For the so-called basic supply, the price is capped. Private households are to pay 12 cents per kilowatt hour for gas, for district heating the price is capped at 9.5 cents per kilowatt hour. For electricity, private consumers will pay 40 cents per kilowatt hour for basic needs. The lower prices apply to a quota of 80 percent of the annual consumption forecast in September 2022. For the remaining 20 percent, the normal market price applies. Saving energy therefore remains important. The measures are to apply retroactively to January 1, 2023. However, the relief amounts will not be paid out until March 2023. Up-to-date information can be found on the Internet site of the German government.
Tax reduction on gas consumption: For gas consumption, the tax rate will be reduced from 19 percent to 7 percent. This measure will apply until the end of March 2024.

December aid: Since the gas price brake acts only from 2023, the federal government has decided to bridge the so-called December aid: Gas and district heating customers receive in December once a refund in the amount of a monthly discount. The calculation is based on one twelfth of the annual consumption. How to get your December discount, explains this Podcast in the ARD-Mediathek.

CO2 price: The increase in the CO2 price planned for January 1, 2023, will be postponed by one year to January 1, 2024.
Reduction of sales tax on gas: The sales tax on all gas consumption will be reduced to 7 percent. This is valid temporarily until March 31, 2024.

Intended relief for families with children

Child Benefit: Parents are to be relieved by a significantly higher child benefit. On January 1, the child benefit for the first three children increases to 250 euros. The increase is automatic, you do not need to apply. More information about the child benefit you get on here on the Familienportal.NRW.
Children's bonus: For each child who is entitled to child benefit in 2022 for at least one month, there is a one-time child bonus in the amount of 100 euros. This child bonus was already paid in July and will be credited against the tax allowance for children.

Children's immediate supplement: Children and adolescents living in low-income families receive an immediate supplement of 20 euros per month since July 2022. The supplement is paid to families who, for example, have to get along with Hartz IV, receive housing benefit, are entitled to child supplement or receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

Children's supplement: The maximum amount of the child supplement is to be raised to 250 euros on January 1, 2023. Information on the child supplement and the online application for child supplement can be found here on the Familienportal.NRW. With the KiZ-Lotsen on the Internet portal of the Employment Agency, you can check whether you meet the requirements for the child supplement.
Heating allowance II: Claim to this heating allowance has who has received the following benefits for at least one of the months from September to December 2022: Housing benefit, BaföG, training allowance or vocational training allowance. The subsidy is paid automatically, so must not be applied for separately.
Higher housing benefit for more people: With the Housing Benefit Plus, the housing allowance will be significantly increased from 1 January 2023. In addition, more citizens than before are entitled to housing benefit. Current information on the reform of the housing allowance can be found, among other things, on the Internet page on the "Wohngeld Plus" - reform of the Federal Government. If you have not previously been entitled to housing benefit, you can use the Housing Benefit Plus Calculator of the BMWSB to check whether the new regulations from January 1, 2023, may make you eligible.

Relief from taxes and social security contributions

Other measures

Wwhere to find help and advice?

It remains important to save energy. The most important measure to cushion price increases is therefore: use energy sparingly! But what can you do personally to reduce consumption in your own household?

If you want to get advice - in person, online or by phone - feel free to contact the Servicecenter of the consumer center.
For detailed information on how you can benefit from the energy flat rate, visit this website of the Central Consumer Office.
If you have debts or serious payment problems, contact the debt counseling service in North Rhine-Westphalia directly. The experienced counselors will help you. You can find a local counseling center via the portal www.nrw-schuldnerberater.de.

The most important relief measures in the overview offers the Internet side of the Federal Government.

The consumer advice center of North Rhine-Westphalia offers extensive information and advice on its Internet portal.

If money is tight, here are tips on how to save it.

This checklist helps when there's not enough money to pay the gas or electric bill.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the gas levy, price jumps and help options are summarized in the FAQ on the gas crisis.

A general overview of financial benefits for families is provided by the "My applications" page on the Familienportal.NRW.

Financial relief in the energy crisis

Measures to secure an affordable energy supply

Government action will help you get through the energy crisis

Wwhere to find help and advice?

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