Energy Debt Hardship Fund for Private Households

The program is aimed at private households with their primary residence in Berlin who, through no fault of their own, are threatened by or already affected by energy debts and associated supply cut-offs due to increased energy costs. The goal is to alleviate these hardships and secure the supply of grid-bound energy.

The Hardship Fund provides financial support for the payment of energy debts incurred through no fault of one's own that have led to a cut-off threat or enforcement. The funding is limited to the amount necessary to prevent the cut-off and exclusively covers claims from grid-bound energy supply that arose from January 1, 2024.

The funding is provided as a one-time, non-repayable grant, paid directly to the energy supplier. The amount of the grant is individually adjusted to the sum required to prevent the cut-off.

To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria regarding their income, residence, and the cause of the energy debts. In addition, consent to direct payment to the energy supplier and to the request for documentation is obligatory.

The application for emergency aid for energy debts is primarily submitted electronically via the service portal of the State of Berlin. The process includes the submission of necessary documents and declarations, after which the approving authority reviews the application and decides on the disbursement.

The legal basis for the Energy Debt Hardship Fund is the Guideline of the State of Berlin, which is based on state budget law and specific budget laws and enables the granting of equity payments.