Energy flat rate for pensioners: how much is left of the 300 euros?

Created: 10/03/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Jasmine Farah

In September, millions of working people received the energy flat rate.

Pensioners only get them in December – but not tax-free.

The federal government has kept its word: at the end of September, numerous employees in this country received the energy flat-rate payment via the wage slip.

That amounts to 300 euros.

However, there is a catch: the energy price flat rate is taxable.

If it is paid out with wages, it is taxed with the income tax deduction.

But what about retirees?

Initially, these were not included in the energy flat rate.

However, that has changed with the third relief package.

Energy flat rate for pensioners: how much is left of the 300 euros?

However, the financial injection varies here as well.

Pensioners receive the 300 euro energy price flat rate, but only from December 1st.

Then the pension insurance should pay this out to the retirees.

For students, on the other hand, there is only 200 euros.

The joy about it is great at first, but pensioners have to consider something else: The energy price flat rate is also paid out gross.

It may then have to be taxed.

Pensioners will also receive the energy flat rate from December 1st.

Leftists want tax exemption.

(Iconic image) © Michael Weber/Imago

The question of how much of the energy flat rate actually ends up in the account is rightly a concern for pensioners.

For Dietmar Bartsch (64), leader of the Left Party in the Bundestag, this is an impertinence.

Especially for people struggling with poverty in old age.

He told the newspapers of the 

 that it was a "serious technical error of the traffic light" that poverty pensioners should pay taxes on the subsidy.

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Energy flat rate for pensioners: Left criticizes taxation

In principle, however, it is the case that retirees who already receive a small pension also have to pay less tax and are therefore allowed to keep more of the energy flat-rate.

But: For the latter, this can also mean that the taxation of the pension is higher due to the subsidy and that there are additional taxes every month.

An example: People who have retired this year and receive 2,500 euros gross per month have to pay 80 euros more in taxes due to the lump sum, as the Ministry of Labor announced, according to the 

 .

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Left-wing politician Bartsch even warns that some pensioners could only slip into taxation through the subsidy.

So he is certain: the energy flat rate must be tax-free for retirees.

There is still some time before the payment is made: the traffic light coalition could possibly change its mind and there will be another change by then.