Double energy flat rate: Pensioners can receive a total of 600 euros
Created: 2022-10-20 21:53
By: Patricia Huber
In December, pensioners can look forward to an energy flat rate of 300 euros.
But some can even receive a total of 600 euros gross from the state.
Berlin – Pensioners will also receive the energy flat rate this winter.
The financial injection from the state is to be paid out automatically by December 15th.
As early as September, all employees subject to income tax received the 300 euro lump sum.
The pensioners were still left empty-handed, which is why they have now also been considered in the federal government's third relief package.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) is convinced that this is a good step.
"That helps 20 million people in a very concrete way," he explained.
Energy flat rate for pensioners: Double payment possible
However, due to the two different payment dates for the two energy flat rates, many pensioners are faced with an important question: is it possible to receive both flat rates?
For example, someone who only retires in October will have already received the 300 euros in September.
In December, that person would then receive the same one-time payment again.
But is that the intention?
The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs provides the answer on its website.
There it says: "What should I do if I receive the energy price flat rate as a pensioner, although I have received the energy price flat rate for employed persons [...]?" The answer is simple: the two payments are not mutually exclusive, it can be read there.
"You may be eligible in either group."
Energy flat rate twice: In these cases, pensioners receive the one-time payment twice
This means that anyone who is or was employed in 2022 despite a pension, or who will only retire after September 2022, will receive the lump sum twice - but it is taxable in both cases.
Thus, these people can look forward to a total of 600 euros gross.
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There is one thing to note, however.
Because if you draw several pensions, you only get the 300 euro energy flat rate once.
An example: Anyone who draws the regular old-age pension and also a widow's pension only gets 300 euros transferred.
According to the Ministry of Labour, "unauthorized double payments" should be technically excluded by "data comparison between the paying offices".
(ph)