Tens of thousands of households in Belgium are missing out on financial aid to heat their home this winter, as only half of people entitled to a designated social heating fund are making use of it.
As reported by SudInfo, the Social Heating Fund estimates that almost 150,000 households could benefit from its financial support. But only 70,977 families received assistance from the fund last year.
The Social Heating Fund is an initiative of the Federal Government, social welfare centres (CPAS) and the oil sector. It offers a financial allowance to households with limited income that heat their home with heating oil, bulk propane gas, or kerosene.
Getting help when it's needed
Last year, 70,977 families across Belgium received financial assistance from the fund, totalling €15.4 million. For the first eight months of this year, 44,142 families received financial assistance totalling €6.9 million.
Brafco, the federation of fuel distributors, and the Social Heating Fund have highlighted that many households are missing out on a home heating grant due to lack of information.
"According to a survey by the King Baudouin Foundation, 21.8% of households in Belgium are in fuel poverty," Walter Walgraeve, Managing Director of the Fund, told SudInfo.
This 21.8% rate is made up of 13.5% of households with energy bills that are too high in relation to their disposable income, and 6.2% of households with bills that are abnormally low compared with similar families. "They've cut back on their budget because they can't afford it, so they're still out in the cold," said Walgraeve.
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The Fund estimates that the number of eligible recipients of the allowance is 150,000 – more than double the current number of households claiming financial aid. Walgraeve said that many people entitled to the benefit are not aware of it; others struggle to ask for financial support, either put off by an administrative burden or anxious about seeking assistance.
Financial aid from the Fund can take the form of a volume allowance per litre or a fixed annual amount. To qualify, you must be in receipt of an increased benefit from the sickness and disability insurance scheme, have a gross taxable income below a certain ceiling or be in debt mediation.
Applications are made through the CPAS energy unit and the Fund offers a simulation module on its website for households to see if they meet the conditions, and calculate the total allowance they would be entitled to.
