Energy crisis: the Val-de-Marne department will pay a check for 50 euros to those excluded from state aid

In an emergency situation, an emergency measure.

"Faced with the increase in energy bills for individuals and the sharp increase in the cost of foodstuffs", the president of the Val-de-Marne departmental council announced on Monday "to launch on October 17 a support system for low-income households.

A file on which Olivier Capitanio (LR) had committed before the summer.

But he was waiting for government announcements to propose “complementary” and non-redundant measures.

This boost to the purchasing power of families will go through the freezing of school catering prices in the 107 colleges of Val-de-Marne.

And this, while some communities are forced to increase the note.

“There will be no increase in 2023”, promises the elected official, who recalls that “for eight years, the increase requested by the establishments could be higher than inflation.

» Aid for half-board, being « naturally » maintained.

To benefit from it, be non-taxable but have a small income

But this support for households also covers energy issues.

Concretely, 50 euros will be paid to households excluded from the national system, i.e. all those who receive more than 900 euros per month but are not taxable, "poor workers who hear about aid but never benefit from it", pleads Olivier Capitanio .

The income ceiling beyond which the Val-de-Marnais will not be able to benefit from this energy check has not yet been defined.

According to initial estimates, approximately 50,000 beneficiaries are concerned.

"Basically", this measure is welcomed by the left, which has been calling for it in recent weeks.

But it is the financing that makes several elected officials react.

“The departmental majority proposes to take from the pocket of the less favored families of Val-de-Marne to give to the barely more favored, denounces Daniel Guérin (MRC).

In the social and purchasing power crisis we are going through, this is unacceptable.

»

Solidarity checks disappear

The executive will indeed devote the entire Val-de-Marne solidarity budget to it, thus putting an end to solidarity checks, amounting to “39 euros in the majority, relativizes Olivier Capitanio.

These are the same non-taxable household profiles for which the energy check is intended”.

In 2019, this aid, which ranged from 30 to 60 euros, was paid to 75,000 households.

The traditional Solidarity Day organized in December will also be cancelled.

The latter could not be held last year, 5th wave of Covid obliges.

“It was a moment of sharing which brought together 30,000 people, 600 associations were mobilized, at a time of the year when the most modest need it, defends the former vice-president Fatiha Aggoune (PCF), at the head of the Val-de-Marne group in common.

Another choice was possible, such as contributing to the FSH (

) which accompanies families in the face of unpaid bills.

»

“The Solidarity Day was certainly a moment of conviviality but it cost 400,000 euros, details Olivier Capitanio who “assumes” its abolition.

I prefer with this amount to help 8,000 families.

“While recalling that all other aids such as FSH are maintained.

And to this solidarity budget will be added an “additional envelope” which has yet to be defined.

“It is therefore not a measure of economy”, insists the president of the department.

But beyond the crisis, can the energy check made in 94 last?

The opposition, which is waiting for the October session to know its outlines, is wondering.

“We are managing the crisis, warns Olivier Capitanio.

It's an emergency situation, we'll see as we go.

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