This is a measure spotted by several media including MoneyVox in the 2025 finance bill: the government plans to review the payment criteria and eligibility conditions for the energy check. “From 2025, new methods for establishing the list of energy check beneficiaries must be defined in order to offer a lasting solution and no longer be based on an obsolete list”, thus indicates the finance bill.
New list
The energy check is this aid intended for low-income households created in 2018, which allows electricity bills or certain energy work to be paid using checks of between 48 and 277 euros. Today, it is calculated for each household based on tax income and housing tax and shipments are made automatically.
But the abolition of the housing tax has motivated the government to review its approach a little on this system. According to people close to the budget minister interviewed by Le Figarono change in scale, eligibility criteria or amount is envisaged. On the other hand, the reform would therefore return to the constitution of its list of beneficiaries by now crossing their financial situation (reference tax income) with the electricity delivery point (PDL) number of the main accommodation since the housing tax has been deleted since 2023.
Direct consequence of this change: energy checks will no longer necessarily be sent automatically to the approximately 5 million eligible households to avoid duplication. Former beneficiaries should not encounter any problems, but new ones who can benefit will have to request it themselves. A “window” should open for those concerned, such as students or new young workers, for example.
The fear of an increase in non-recourse
Enough to worry certain left-wing elected officials and associations who are already anticipating an increase in the rate of non-response to this request. A Mediapart article published on October 8 indeed mentions “Bercy’s plan to discreetly torpedo the energy check” which could bring “1 billion euros” to the State according to the media.
But the government assures that the objective “eventually” is good to return to an automatic payment system.
