Heating aid recalibrated: support to focus on the most vulnerable
The authorities' compensation for the cold season will be lower this year. The maximum amount will be reduced from 1,400 lei to 1,000 lei, while the minimum will be set at 500 lei, according to a draft discussed at the meeting on November 20 at the State Chancellery. The new rules, which will be in effect from November 2025 to March 2026, are intended to more effectively target aid to vulnerable households.
The maximum compensation for heating will be 1,000 lei for households using thermal energy, natural gas, or electricity, and 800 lei for those using solid fuels.
The compensation percentages were also updated: 40% for electricity used for heating, 30% for thermal energy, 25% for natural gas, and 15% for solid fuels. Additionally, the minimum cost formulas for households have been adjusted to accurately reflect expenses during the cold season.
As a result, the eligibility criteria have become more selective, and households whose estimated consumption exceeds 350 cubic meters of natural gas will not qualify for compensation.
The authorities stated that these changes aim to better identify vulnerable households and to utilize a budget estimated at 2.36 billion lei more efficiently. The project must be approved by the Government and will come into effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.
It's important to note that registrations on the compensation platform began on November 3. This initiative is part of the government program "Help at the Meter", which was launched in 2022 to assist vulnerable families.
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, registrations can only be completed online, and the assessment of applications will be conducted automatically based on income and household composition data. For those without digital access, support from local social workers is available.
Compensations will be provided in cash, either through transfers to social cards or at post offices, covering the costs of heating with natural gas, centralized thermal energy, electricity, as well as wood, coal, pellets, or briquettes.
In the cold season from November 2024 to March 2025, over 720,000 families, totaling more than 1.5 million members, received compensation for heating expenses. Previously, the Government allocated a total of 2.69 billion lei for this support program.
