Why don't we get an energy allowance for 2023?

Questioner

We are entrepreneurs (vof) and have a low turnover in 2023. My husband will receive AOW from July. In our municipality, you could only apply for energy allowance for 2023 from the end of October 2023. Now, the municipality has taken the average of the turnover of the year in the calculation, but because the reference date falls late in the year, the full AOW is added to that. So for the profit from business, they look at a whole year, but not for the AOW, because otherwise this would only be counted for half. As a result, they arrive at a total amount of € 2,460,--, while we only received an average of € 1,852,-- per month for 2023. We feel left out in the cold because of this. If we had had the opportunity to submit an application in the first part of the year, it would have been granted. But the municipality only opened the possibility for applications at the end of October.

Lawyer

I understand that this situation can be particularly difficult for you. It is important to know that different municipalities can have different rules regarding things like the energy allowance. It seems that in your case there may be a discrepancy in how the municipality calculates your income from both your business and your AOW. Firstly you might consider talking to the local authority or a legal advisor to explain your situation and ask for an explanation of their calculations. It may be that a mistake has been made that can be corrected. If this does not lead to a satisfactory solution, you could appeal the municipality's decision. In that case, it is advisable to seek legal assistance. A lawyer or attorney can help you formulate your objection and navigate the process. It may also be useful to consult a legal advisor to see if there are other schemes or subsidies that you can apply for given your low turnover. I would like to point out that this is an orientation advice, so it may be wise to seek the help of a lawyer or attorney with experience in this matter. --------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.