Allowance for vulnerable energy buyers

This allowance amounts up to a maximum of EUR 26.54, exceptionally up to a maximum of EUR 70 per month by 31 March 2024

The right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers is granted to single persons or households who meet the criteria for being considered vulnerable energy buyers, as set out in regulations pertaining to the energy sector.

The decision granting the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers sets out the following:

1) status of vulnerable buyer
2) granting of the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers in a specific amount, i.e. determination of the type and scope of rights to which the beneficiary is entitled given their status and
3) determination of the manner of participating in the payment of energy costs, i.e. the manner of paying the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers.

If due to a change in circumstances a decision is made to reduce the scope of the rights or to terminate the rights once the buyer is no longer considered vulnerable, the Institute must, within eight days from the date of enforceability of the decision, notify the distribution system operator and the provider of the buyer thereof.

A beneficiary of the right to a personal disability allowance who is simultaneously a beneficiary of the right to the guaranteed minimum benefit may also be granted the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers on a single basis.

Pursuant to the Regulation on the monthly amount of allowance for vulnerable energy buyers, manner of participating in the payment of energy costs of the beneficiary of the allowance and the practice of the Croatian Social Work Institute, as well as the Regulation on amendments to the Regulation on the criteria for granting the status of vulnerable network energy buyers, based on their status of a vulnerable buyer, the beneficiary of the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers is entitled to co-funding of their electricity, gas and/or heating costs, in an amount of up to 26.54 EUR. Exceptionally, this allowance may amount up to a maximum of EUR 70 per month by 31 March 2024

Apart from beneficiaries of the guaranteed minimum allowance and personal disability allowance who are not being provided with accommodation services or organised housing, the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers may also be granted to:

• beneficiaries of the national seniority allowance
• persons sharing a household with a beneficiary of the national seniority allowance
• beneficiaries of financial allowances for unemployed Croatian Homeland War veterans and their family members
• persons sharing a household with a beneficiary of financial allowance for unemployed Croatian Homeland War veterans and their family members
• beneficiaries of the allowance for civilian victims of the Homeland War
• persons sharing a household with a beneficiary of the allowance for civilian victims of the Homeland War.

 
Beneficiaries of personal disability allowance who are also beneficiaries of the guaranteed minimum allowance, national seniority allowance, allowance for unemployed Croatian Homeland War veterans and their family members or allowance for civilian victims of the Homeland War may be granted allowance for vulnerable energy buyers on a single basis. If there are two or more household members who are beneficiaries of one or more of the aforementioned allowances, the household may be granted allowance for vulnerable energy buyers on a single basis.
 
Applications for granting these rights must be submitted to the Croatian Social Work Institute.

The Institute will adopt a decision on the recognition of the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers.

Exceptionally, if there is a justified reason for this, the right to subsidisation of electricity costs in the branch office of the Financial Agency may also be realized by the professional employees of the regional office of the Croatian Social Work Institute upon presentation of a card proving the status of official or the authority of the Director for payment of electricity bills for vulnerable customers under the jurisdiction of that regional office of the Croatian Social Work Institute, copies of a decision granting the beneficiary the right to compensation for vulnerable energy buyer and submitting the original order for payment of electricity costs.