The energy check made its comeback in 2024. But, faced with its non-reception by the French, the government extended its payment.
In France, the energy check aims to support low-income households in their energy expenditure, thus helping to combat precariousness and maintain a decent standard of living. Faced with its non-reception by eligible French people, the government revised its copy.
The advantages of the energy check
The eligibility of the energy check is intended to be determined by the composition of the household and income. prosecutor of reference (RFR). The amount varies depending on the number of consumption units and annual income.
Unlike other social measures, the energy check is visible thus automatically assigned. Without prior action, on the basis of tax information.
Beneficiaries receive it directly by mail. This year, the energy checks were sent gradually from April 2, with a deadline for use set at March 31. of the following year.
The amounts awarded vary between 48 and 277 euros, depending on the household resources. This aid can be used to pay energy bills, finance energy renovation work or cover heating costs included in the fee.
In 2024, discussions focused on a possible revaluation of the energy check. They say they are supported by associations such as the Abbé Pierre Foundation and the CLVC.
However, identifying beneficiaries was more complex this year. Due to the removal of housing taxpreviously used to establish eligibility.
Many households deprived of this assistance
For households that have not received the energy check or for those wanting a reviewa complaints counter has been open since July. Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2024.
The necessary documents include a tax notice, an identity document and an energy bill recent. In 2025, 2023 income will determine eligibility.
The RFR ceiling is set at €11,000 for a single person, €16,500 for a childless couple. And €19,800 for a couple with a child. It is therefore advisable to check your eligibility to benefit from this essential assistance.
As you know, the government is granting additional time to eligible households to the energy check. Nearly a million new households will now have until March 31, 2025 to make their request, instead of December 31, 2024.
This decision, supported by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, aims to compensate for the weak participation rate observed. A draft decree, presented to the Higher Energy Council, thus plans to postpone the “window closing date”.
However, the measure will depend on the approval of the next government led by François Bayrou. By mid-December, only 100,000 households had completed the necessary steps to receive their energy check.
Why is the date of receipt of the energy check extending?
This represents barely 10% of potential new beneficiaries. And this, despite a vast campaign communication: between the end of November and mid-December, 5.7 million emails and 5.6 million SMS messages were sent to raise awareness among households.
These efforts have therefore made it possible to double the number of beneficiaries in a few weeks. But the device still remains largely underused.
Before 2024, the energy check was sent automatically to eligible householdsthanks to data from the housing tax. With the removal of this tax in 2023, the method has changed.
Only those who had already received the check in 2023 received it automatically in 2024 (i.e. 5.5 million households). New potential beneficiaries, estimated at one million, must now complete a online request.
This change therefore sparked criticism from consumer associations. The latter thus denounce a complex procedure which risks excluding many households.
They are therefore calling for a simplification of the process, based on the tax income of reference to automate attribution. And an increase in the amount of the check.
The energy check thus offers aid of between 48 and 277 euros, in depending on income and household composition. It can be used to pay energy bills (gas, electricity, fuel oil) or finance energy renovation work.
Each year, approximately one million households enter or come out of the devicedepending on the evolution of their tax situation. If the objective is to guarantee financial support to low-income households, the government will still have to meet the challenge of improving access and the effectiveness of the system.
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