What is the energy flat rate?

Sarah Huemer

Editor in the "Wert" section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

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In September, the Federal Government decided that students, pupils and trainees will receive a one-off payment of 200 euros. This money is intended to support young people in the face of higher energy costs. For a long time, there were no concrete plans for when the payout would take place. That has now changed. From mid-March, it should be possible to submit an application.

Who is entitled to the one-off payment?

In total, there are around 3.5 million people in Germany who are entitled to the energy lump sum. These include students, trainees and pupils in technical school classes or vocational school classes. The prerequisite is that the training centre is in Germany and that the applicants also live here.

Anyone who lives in another country for a short time, for example for a semester abroad or an internship, is also entitled to the money. Students who have moved to Germany from abroad also receive the one-off payment. Those people who study part-time or who complete a dual course of study are also entitled to the 200 euros. Those who study exclusively abroad, on the other hand, do not receive any money.

How do I get the money?

The individual federal states are responsible for the disbursements. Together with the federal government, they have developed the online platform www.einmalzahlung200.de. From mid-March, the lump sum can be applied for throughout Germany. As soon as it starts, the training centres issue personal access codes to the beneficiaries. They can use it to retrieve the application form on the website. If the application is approved, a confirmation will be sent by e-mail. The money will be transferred to the specified account number.

The application requires that you have a Bund ID account. This is a federal user account that citizens can use to identify themselves when applying for benefits from the state. Such a Bund ID account can be created online by any citizen. Registration takes place via the website of Bund-ID. You need either an Elster certificate or an ID card with online function, for example an identity card or a citizen card of the European Union.

Why is it not easier with the energy lump sum?

Many young people are upset that the payout is so complicated. They have to wait much longer than other groups of people for the support payment from the state. The working population and pensioners already received energy money last year.

The federal government argues that there is not enough data from the students, such as bank details – unlike, for example, the seniors, who regularly receive their pension payments anyway. That's why it takes longer.

Do I also receive the lump sum if I have recently completed my training?

Anyone who was enrolled on 1 December 2022 or registered with a training centre in Germany should receive the money according to the government's plans. If someone has completed their training before this deadline, there is no one-off payment.

Are taxes payable on the energy lump sum?

No. It is not subject to income tax. The one-off payment is also not taken into account for income-related social benefits, such as Bafög. There are also no social security contributions due on it.

Can I get the payment in addition to other reliefs?

Yes. It does not preclude other discharges. Some students, for example, work part-time and have therefore also received the one-time energy price lump sum for employed persons of 300 euros. You can still apply for the one-off payment for students. Also, the heating cost subsidies, which Bafög recipients are entitled to, have no influence on whether someone gets the one-time payment or not.

What other discharges are there?

For Bafög recipients, the Federal Government decided last year two heating cost subsidies. These are automatically paid out with the Bafög. The students have already received the first amount of 230 euros.

They should have received the second subsidy of 345 euros from mid-January, at least according to the Federal Government's plan. However, since this discharge is also a matter for the federal states and there are different timetables for it, not all students and trainees are likely to have received the money even now.