Energy check: UFC-Que Choisir asks the government to put in place a clear and simple procedure

The 2024 energy check campaign was launched on March 30. The ministerial communication indicates that beneficiaries will have “no action to take, the check will be sent to them automatically”. If it nevertheless adds that an online system will be put in place by this summer to allow households to make a complaint if they have not received anything, even though they believe they are eligible, it falls completely under silence the fact that a majority of low-income households who should benefit from the energy check will be forced to go through this system, because of an incredible failure by the administration.

The undersigned organizations deeply regret that the message delivered to the general public hides the reality: namely the impasse in which the tax services find themselves in identifying the consumption units and therefore the eligibility for the check, and its amount. The end of the housing tax and the associated file is the cause, and nothing has been anticipated to find a replacement criterion despite the numerous alerts.

The online platform will actually have to record the requests of this million potential beneficiaries that the tax services cannot identify, as well as all the beneficiaries of the 2023 campaign whose resources may have decreased since 2022.

The usage rate for exceptional fuel and wood checks, which had to be requested in 2022 on an online platform, is very low. What will happen to the energy check, and its associated protections, if from now on we do not clearly explain the situation, and if we do not encourage potential beneficiaries to take the right action as soon as the platform will be open?

The Minister of the Economy and Finance, reacting to the alert press release from consumer and charitable organizations, affirmed on February 5 that no beneficiary would be excluded from the energy check in 2024. This commitment was reiterated by the administration within the framework of the debates of the High Energy Council. UFC-Que Choisir asks the Minister to confirm this commitment and to put in place clear communication and a simple procedure to allow all beneficiaries to access this aid. The constant search for savings within the state budget must not penalize the most vulnerable households.

Signatories: ADEIC – AFOC – ALLDC – AUE – CFDT - CGL – CLCV – CNAFAL – CNAFC – CNL – Familles de France - FNCCR – FNME CGT - Fondation Abbé Pierre - FO - INDECOSA-CGT – Secours Catholique - UFC-Que Choisir – ULCC - UNAF

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.