Next year, 3.9 million vulnerable Romanians will be able to receive 1,400 lei in two installments to offset their electricity bills with cards that will be delivered by Romanian Post starting in February, Minister Marcel Bolosh said on Thursday. Vouchers for 250 lei for meals and hot meals were also continued.

2.4 million beneficiaries of food cards will also receive social vouchers of 250 lei every 2 months next year, the Minister of Investments and European Projects announced at the end of a government meeting, where two urgent resolutions were adopted on the matter.

HotNews.ro explained on Wednesday evening these measures were prepared by the Government.

“The maximum amount of income up to which compensation for the increase in food prices is granted has been increased from 1,500 to 1,700 lei. The government also approved measures from December 19 to 23 for the fourth installment of the food card. Thus, the number of food card beneficiaries is 2.4 million beneficiaries. The cost of one tranche is 600 million lei, and 50% of this money will come from EU funds,” Bolosh said.

The second measure, approved by GEO at the Government session, is aimed at compensating the energy price of 1,400 lei per year in 2 equal parts of 700 lei each, in February 2023 and September 2023, respectively.

How energy cards will be used

Minister Marcel Bolosh gave the following explanations regarding the functioning mechanism of energy cards:

“The estimated number of beneficiaries is 3.9 million people. The Ministry of Labor will compile the lists. The mechanism will operate through MIPE in partnership with the Romanian Post, and all types of energy can be calculated.

Payments will be made through money transfer transactions. There are 2 ways, respectively through postal employees or directly at the post office. Here, 3 documents are required to make a payment by postal transfer:

• an energy card that entitles the beneficiary to compensation for the cost of energy
• Identification card
• a document confirming debt to the energy supplier.

The energy card has no denomination. It has security elements, that is, a barcode. It entitles the beneficiary to the electricity price compensation, it is non-transferable and cannot be cashed out, so basically the beneficiary proves with the card that they are the beneficiary of this benefit and the post office makes the payments to the energy suppliers.” said the minister.

Unlike social cards for food and hot meals, the cards do not have a plastic part or a microchip, but have as an element of protection barcodes that are read when the beneficiary appears at the post office.

The energy cards will be printed by Romfilatelia, a structure controlled by the Post of Romania.

Additional clarification was also provided by MIPE in a separate statement.

What explanations did MIPE give for the two support measures

1. The deadline for issuing vouchers for meals and hot meals in the amount of 250 lei has been extended

The government today approved the provision of six new contributions of 250 lei each for meals and hot meals during 2023, as well as a 12.5% ​​increase in the marginal level of income to which the right is granted.

They will receive social vouchers for meals and hot meals:

• pensioners of the state pension system, pensioners on the register of industry pension houses and beneficiaries of rights granted on the basis of special laws, whose monthly net income is less than or equal to 1,500 lei, for installments from 2022, respectively, incomes are less than or equal to 1,700 lei for installments from 2023;
• children and adults classified as severely, severely or moderately disabled, whose own net monthly income is less than or equal to 1,500 lei for installments from 2022, respectively income less than or equal to 1,700 lei for installments from 2023;
• families with at least 2 dependent children whose net monthly income per family member is less than or equal to 600 lei for installments from 2022, respectively income less than or equal to 675 lei for installments from 2023;
• single-parent families whose monthly net income per family member is less than or equal to 600 lei for installments from 2022, respectively income less than or equal to 675 lei for installments from 2023;
• to families and single persons who are entitled to social assistance, under the terms of Law No. 416/2001 on guaranteed minimum income, as amended.

New electronic supports will be issued to persons entitled to receive assistance during the periodic update of the lists of beneficiaries by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity.

2. Support for energy price compensation provided to vulnerable Romanians

Vulnerable Romanians will receive energy price compensation support in the nominal amount of 1,400 lei, which can be used until 31 December 2023 and will be provided per point of consumption/vulnerable household in two installments as shown below:

• 700 lei/semester, awarded in February 2023 for the period 01.01.2023 – 06.30.2023;
• 700 lei/semester, awarded in September 2023 for the period 07/01/2023 – 12/31/2023.

According to the decree adopted today, the following will benefit from this measure:

• pensioners of the state pension system, pensioners on the register of sectoral pension houses and beneficiaries of rights granted under special laws, aged 60 and over and whose monthly income is less than or equal to 2,000 lei, as well as pensioners with a disability pension, regardless of age and whose monthly income less than or equal to 2000 lei;
• persons – children and adults – classified as severely, severely or moderately disabled, whose own monthly income is less than or equal to 2000 lei;
• families receiving family support;
• families and single citizens who are entitled to a guaranteed minimum income.

European funds of 4 billion lei have been allocated for heating assistance from the Human Capital Operational Program and the Regional Operational Program for the programming period 2014-2020 within the limits of the savings identified at the level of these programs and the amounts considered at risk of withdrawal during the 2014 programming period – 2020

The list of those who will benefit from this support will be drawn up by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, and the support will be provided in the form of a voucher, printed and distributed by Compania Nationala “Poșta Română” SA, with no nominal value. , valid throughout the territory of Romania, which gives the owner the right to receive assistance from the compensation of energy prices, regardless of its nature, namely electricity, centralized thermal energy, gas, cylinders, firewood, fuel oil, pellets and other heating materials.

Beneficiaries of the aid will be able to pay current and/or outstanding debts to energy suppliers using the energy card through the postal transfer service provided by CN Poșta Română SA. The Ministry of Investments and European Projects will provide funds for this assistance by transferring the amount to the bank account of CN Poșta Română SA.

People who belong to more than one category will receive support related to the one category they belong to on the day it is provided. Detailed lists of individuals/families eligible for this benefit will be provided to CN Posta Română by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity.