Energy flat rate: Seven million Germans could lose a one-off payment directly

Created: 10/04/2022 11:17 am

By: Patricia Huber

Around seven million Germans will probably not benefit from the energy flat rate.

Because the law has forgotten a group of people.

Berlin – With the September salary, a number of Germans could look forward to more money.

Because the so-called energy flat rate was paid out.

The state donates the 300 euros one-time payment to all employees subject to income tax due to the sharp increase in energy costs.

This is a very welcome relief for many households, after all not only the prices for electricity and gas have risen enormously, but also for food.

Energy flat rate: Difficult to pay out for indebted people

But for many, the flat rate should quickly become a disappointment.

As the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung eV (BAG-SB) explains on its website, it could happen that the energy flat rate would be taken away from seven million people.

The managing director of the BAG-SB, Ines Moers, criticizes that the "huge group of indebted and over-indebted people" was forgotten in the corresponding law.

"As soon as there is a wage or account garnishment or someone is in bankruptcy, it takes a lot of effort to get the lump sum paid out."

There have also been similar problems with the Corona aid.

Now, according to Moers, "it would have been so easy to declare the lump sum in the law as non-seizable from the outset." However, that did not happen.

The website of the Federal Ministry of Finance states that the energy flat rate is "not covered by a wage garnishment", but the BAG-SB has its doubts.

Because it is not clear whether the wage programs work according to this clarification or whether a legal regulation is required for this.

Many debtors will probably not receive an energy flat rate at all

However, one thing is clear: if it is not the salary but the account that is seized, the clarification from the ministry is not sufficient according to the BAG-SB.

In order to receive the lump sum, those affected even have to go to court and apply for approval there.

It remains to be seen whether this will work at all.

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But many will probably not even dare to take this step out of ignorance or fear.

This means that many debtors should end up empty-handed with an energy flat-rate.

"Then, in turn, there is a threat of an electricity or gas block and, if in doubt, the state will have to provide financial help again to avert existential emergencies," Moers fears.