More than 1,000 low-income households have received financial support to cope with higher energy costs within the first month of the start of the heat fund. Since the start on January 16, one million euros in benefits have already been approved from the fund provided by Stadtwerke München (SWM) with 20 million euros. Individuals receive 700 euros, for each additional person living in the same household an additional 300 euros. So far, around 2,500 Munich residents have benefited from the money, reported social affairs officer Dorothee Schiwy. “The first million will particularly benefit families with children and young people, as well as the elderly.”
The application has been possible since January 16th in the social community centers and a number of institutions of the welfare associations. “By anchoring our facilities in the various parts of the city, we were able to address many of those affected directly,” explained Julia Sterzer, spokeswoman for the working group of independent welfare organizations. For example, a particularly large number of applications came from Milbertshofen-Am Hart, a district with an above-average population. It is very gratifying that many families – and thus almost 1000 children and young people under the age of 20 in these households – have already received the financial aid, emphasized Sterzer.
Households that do not receive citizen income, social assistance or asylum seeker benefits can apply for the lump sum. They are exempt because they also cover the higher heating and hot water costs. The help is aimed at recipients of housing benefit and child allowance, holders of a gray Munich passport and people whose monthly net income is below the poverty risk threshold of 1540 euros. In addition, there are recipients of student loans and vocational training grants, provided they run their own household.
The website set up specifically for the offer has already had more than 15,500 visits www.waermefonds.de, where the application can also be downloaded. Information on the contact points where the application form is also available in printed form and on all questions relating to the heat fund is available from the energy hotline of the Diakonie Munich and Upper Bavaria on 089-126991-5150 (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).