High heating costs: This is how you get money from the office

This year, some tenants are likely to expect high back payments for ancillary costs.

What a lot of people don't know is that anyone who can't cope with this can get help from the authorities.

Munich/Berlin – The inflation rate remains at a high level.

As a result, more and more people are getting into financial difficulties - even though they are in regular employment.

The high energy costs in particular can quickly become a problem when a substantial back payment is due.

Help with back payment of ancillary costs: Submit the application in good time

But in this case help can be requested.

Because what many do not know: A high additional cost surcharge can result in a claim for citizen benefit.

As Caritas explains on its website, an application for support can be submitted to the responsible job center or social welfare office if you cannot pay the required additional payment with your income.

Important: The application for help from the office must be made in the month in which you received the request for payment.

If time is short, according to Caritas, an informal application by e-mail is sufficient for the time being.

The complete application can then be submitted later.

Informal sample application

I hereby apply for [first name] [surname], born on [date of birth] in [town/country of birth], informally and in a timely manner, to have the costs that I have incurred as a result of the increased energy prices as part of the ancillary cost billing for my rented apartment covered. 

Source: Charity

But how much can you actually earn in order to receive money from the job center in this case?

The following sample calculation shows the factors on which this depends.

Employees with a net income of 1,600 euros, rent of 900 euros warm and back payment for heating costs of 700 euros.

Requirements according to the Second Social Code (SGB II):

502 euros standard requirement + 900 euros rent + 700 euros back payment for heating costs =

Income Adjustment:

1600 euros net income – 100 euros basic allowance (§ 11b Abs. 2 SGB II) – 200 euros employment allowance (§ 11b Abs. 3 SGB II) =

takeover claim:

2102 euros requirement – ​​1300 euros creditable income =

In this sample invoice, the person concerned would be entitled to support of 802 euros.

List of rubrics: © Patrick Pleul/dpa