In Belgium, a new law on social rate premium excludes residents of residential care centres and assisted living homes. Adopted by the previous Belgian government in May, the law provides for a permanent social tariff premium for natural gas, electricity and heat. It applies for cases where the application of the social energy tariff is not possible in the absence of an individual energy supply agreement.
However, the law excludes older people living in residential care centres, or in an assisted living home connected to a residential care centre, even though they meet the income criteria for the social scheme.
AGE Belgian member OKRA finds the exclusion of these groups of vulnerable older people unacceptable and had, before its adoption, together with the federal advisory council for older people, intervened to undo this discrimination.
The association for seniors in Flanders and Brussels also regrets that the premiums in question are not automatically granted to beneficiaries but must be applied for. OKRA points out that, the law concerns groups with very low incomes, often also with a short education, a lack of digital skills, and a lack of awareness of administrative procedures. The risk of under-inclusion is therefore particularly high.
OKRA also points out that people who could enjoy the social energy in their home will lose the social energy rate if they move to an assisted living home with a collective energy connection or to a residential care home where the energy cost is passed on via the daily rate. For the association, this is indefensible and incomprehensible.
OKRA calls on the next federal and Flemish governments will undo this discrimination.
