Energy allowance students: FNV denounces considerations national lawyer

Energy allowance students: FNV denounces considerations national lawyer

 

 

Trade union FNV disagrees with a ruling by the state attorney general and believes students should be eligible for the 1,300 euro energy surcharge.

 

Poverty policy minister Carola Schouten insists that by no means all students need to receive the 1,300 euro energy allowance from their municipality. She asked the national lawyer for advice: is her position tenable? Yes, is the answer.

 

The national lawyer weighs the interests. On the one hand, the government wants to give a lot of money at lightning speed to people who get into acute trouble because of high energy bills (the minima), on the other hand it would rather not waste public money. In the balance between speed and diligence, according to the country’s lawyer, it is defensible to exclude certain groups if they include too many people who do not need the allowance at all.

 

And that would apply to students. The “living situation” of students is too diverse, the government believes. But students in need, who do belong to the target group, should also have somewhere to go. The cabinet has therefore allocated an additional 35 million euros for ‘individual special assistance’.

 

The FNV finds it all rather strange and points to the principle of equality. Equal situations require equal treatment. The fact that you happen to be a ‘student’ does not change your low income.

 

Delft is one of the few municipalities that does give an energy allowance to students. Many of them are not eligible because the municipality makes it a condition that a student has an energy contract in his own name. Many students do not have that. (HOP, BB/ Delta)