Maria Zagka spoke about delays in the disbursement of the heating fuel subsidy. The president of the Attica Gas Station Owners Association, speaking on Action 24, mentioned that there are indications that payment backlogs remain, resulting in many beneficiaries still not having received the amounts they are entitled to, causing concern and dissatisfaction.
This delay may complicate the daily lives of citizens who rely on the subsidy to cover heating costs. The competent authorities are called upon to address the issue immediately to ensure that subsidies are paid on time.
At the same time, the deadline for submitting applications for the 2025-2026 heating subsidy expires in ten days. The amount ranges from €100 to €800, while in areas with very low temperatures it can reach up to €1,200. However, there are categories that are excluded from receiving the subsidy.
Who is excluded
Individuals who are declared as hosted or dependent members and those who show signs of luxurious living, such as owning more than two vehicles or commercial property, are excluded from the heating subsidy. Additionally, those who do not meet the specific income and asset criteria are excluded.
Natural persons who are single, married, widowed, as well as single-parent families or persons with cohabitation agreements are eligible to participate, provided they meet the income and asset criteria. The subsidy concerns heating of the main residence, regardless of whether it is owned or rented, and covers consumption of oil, natural gas, LPG, firewood, pellets, district heating, or electricity.
For married couples or those with cohabitation agreements, the beneficiary is the person liable to file a tax return or one of the two if they file separate returns.
Who are the heating subsidy beneficiaries
The subsidy is granted to natural persons who use their main residence for heating, regardless of whether they own or rent it, provided they meet the income and asset criteria.
The subsidy covers consumption of:
- oil
- natural gas
- LPG
- firewood
- pellets
- district heating
- electricity
For families, the beneficiary is considered the person liable for the tax return or one of the two spouses in case of separate returns.
Specifically, for determining a natural person as a beneficiary the following income and asset criteria must be met:
- Annual family income must amount to up to €16,000 for single-person households and €24,000 for couples. This limit is increased by €5,000 for each child. For single-parent families, the above income amounts to up to €29,000, which is increased by €5,000 for each child after the first. Total gross household income from business activity must not exceed €80,000, aiming for better targeting of beneficiaries.
- The asset elements of beneficiaries, as derived from the 2025 ENFIA administrative determination act, must not exceed €200,000 for unmarried persons, those liable in widowhood or separation status, and €260,000 for married persons or parties to cohabitation agreements and single-parent families. In any case, the amount is increased by €40,000 for each dependent child.
For calculating the subsidy, various factors are taken into account, such as the climate severity of each area and the required energy consumption for heating a building.
