Electricity and gas bills are a hot topic: the increases that have occurred in particular in recent months have increased costs and especially low-income families have encountered many difficulties.
The social bonus for electricity and gas bills is the main measure that people who have economic difficulties can rely on to lighten the burden of bills on the family budget, but it is not the only one. People with low incomes and the elderly can access various concessions: let’s see together what they are.
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The social bonus for low-income families
The social bonus for low-income families is the main savings opportunity for those who are having difficulty coping with the energy crisis. In 2023 this concession will be recognized to families who have a ISEE indicator lower than 15,000 euros and consists of a discount on the bill. For large families with at least four dependent children, the reference ISEE threshold is instead 20,000 euros.
To be able to access the bonus it is sufficient submit the DSU (Single Substitute Declaration) every year to your Municipality of residence, the document needed to obtain the ISEE certificate. If the ISEE indicator falls within the limits established by law, the social bonus is recognized automatically and you will receive an already discounted electricity and gas bill.
The social bonus is recognized automatically to holders of the Basic income or of the citizen’s pension. In this case it is not necessary to present the ISEE indicator: in fact, the subsidy is triggered by law.
L’amount of the social bonus it is not fixed, but is calculated on the basis of various parameters. As regards the electricity bill, the number of people making up the household is taken into account, while for the gas social bonus, not only the composition of the household is taken into account, but also the type of supply and the climatic zone in which find.
Low-income families who benefit from the social bonus also have the option of install bill payments. Normally the installment is granted only in certain cases, but those who receive the bill bonus have concessions in this sense. If you choose this option, you will pay an initial fee of at least 30% of the bill amount and then charge the remaining amount in subsequent bills. This type of facilitation is provided in particular for those who have remained in the protected market. Those who have instead made the transition to the free energy and gas market must refer to the information provided by their operator.
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Benefits for the elderly
In addition to being able to access the social bonus, if you have an income that falls within the limits established by law, the elderly can take advantage of other benefits that allow them to save on electricity and gas bills.
Anyone over 70, for example, is entitled to one discount on the commission due to the post office for the payment of the bulletins. If the bill is in the name of a person over 70, the commission payable drops from 2 to 1 euro.
Among the items that increase the amount of the electricity bill there is, also for 2023, the Rai license fee. Those over 75 who own a TV and have an ISEE indicator of up to 6,713 euros can request theexemption from paying the TV license fee and thus save 90 euros per year.
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Other opportunities to save on electricity and gas bills
For those who have difficulty paying their bills, any form of savings and any subsidy can make the difference. Choose to not receive the paper bill and opt for thedirect debit of bills from current account are easy ways to save a few euros.
Another system that can be adopted to save on electricity and gas bills is monitor your consumption and optimize the use made of electricity and gas. Switching on appliances at the least expensive time slots and avoiding waste are simple but effective strategies for cutting costs.
Another effective solution to save on bills is compare rates offered by different operators. Activating a contract at the best possible conditions for your profile and taking advantage of the discounts available for families allows you to maximize savings and face the moment the electricity and gas bills arrive with a little more serenity.
Thanks to the tariff comparison it could turn out convenient to switch from the protected market to the free market of energy and gas. Currently, for example, the reference tariff for calculating the electricity bill is set at around 36 cents per kWh in the market with enhanced protection, while in the free market the value to which reference must be made is that of the PUN, currently below the 20 cents a kWh.
