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Social Bonus: what is it and how to request it?
The new Royal Decree Law 18/2022 introduces changes to the electricity Social Bonus effective 20 October 2022. The discount percentages for consumers who were already beneficiaries of the Social Bonus have been increased.
What is the Social Bonus?
The Social Bonus is a significant discount on electricity bills. It is regulated by the government and aims to protect households considered vulnerable or severely vulnerable on account of their socio-economic conditions. Being a beneficiary of the Social Bonus also implies receiving the Social Thermal Bonus as defined by the Government.
Who can benefit from the new Social Rate?
To benefit from the Social Bonus, it is essential for the recipient to be a natural person and have contracted the PVPC electricity rate and a power equal to or less than 10 kilowatts at their primary residence.
To apply for the Social Bonus, you must meet certain requirements that prove your status as a vulnerable customer, severely vulnerable customer, or severely vulnerable customer at risk of social exclusion, as detailed below.
What are the requirements to be considered vulnerable or severely vulnerable?
Vulnerable customers
Those who are holders of a regulated tariff contract (PVPC) and meet at least four of the following conditions are considered to be vulnerable customers:
1. Annual income less than or equal to the limits established according to the IPREM (Public Indicator of Multiple Effect Income) in 14 payments:
- 1.5 times the IPREM*: If he/she is not part of a cohabitation unit or there are no dependant minors: 12.600€.
- 0.3 times the IPREM for each additional member of legal age: 2.520€.
- 0.5 times the IPREM for each minor in the cohabitation unit: 4.200€.
*IPREM 14 payments valid for 2024: €8,400.
For example, for a couple with two minor children to qualify for the Social Bonus as a vulnerable consumer, the maximum household income must be equal to or less than: €23,520.
Units of coexistence consist of the people who reside at the same address and who are connected to each other:
- By marriage or as a domestic partnership.
- Related up to the second degree of consanguinity/affinity: Children, spouse, parents, parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, grandparents, siblings, grandchildren and brothers/sisters-in-law.
- By adoption, and other persons with who you live by virtue of guardianship for the purpose of adoption or permanent family fostering.
- In no case may the same person be part of two or more cohabitation units.
These thresholds will be increased by 1 times the IPREM if any of the following circumstances apply:
- Any member of the household has a recognised disability equal to or greater than 33%.
- Any member of the household is a victim of gender violence or terrorism.
- If a member of the cohabitation unit is in a situation of recognised grade 2 or 3 dependency.
- If it can be accredited that the cohabitation unit consists of a single parent and at least one minor (single-parent families).
2. Pensioners in the Social Security System (retirement or permanent disability): applicants (or in case of a cohabitation unit, all its members in receipt of income) receive the minimum pension (for retirement or permanent disability). In addition, if they have another source of income apart from their pension, the annual value of this income must not exceed €500.
3. Large families: all, without exceptions, that present a valid large family accreditation.
4. Recipients of the minimum wage: if the consumer or any member of the cohabitation unit is a beneficiary of the minimum wage in accordance with the provisions of Law 19/2021, of 20 December, establishing the minimum wage.
Customers who meet the aforementioned requirements are considered vulnerable and will receive a discount on their bill, in accordance with RDL 4/2024, dated 24 June, subject to annual consumption limits:
- 65% discount until 30 September 2024.
- 57.5% discount from 1 October to 31 December 2024.
- 50% discount from 1 January to 31 March 2025.
- 42.5% discount from 1 April to 30 June 2025.
- 35% discount starting 1 July 2025.
Severely vulnerable customers
Those who are holders of a regulated tariff contract (PVPC) and meet at least three of the following conditions are considered to be severely vulnerable customers:
- Income: receive an annual income less than or equal to 50% of the income thresholds established to be considered a vulnerable customer, including, where appropriate, the increase set out for cases in which "special circumstances" occur.
- Minimum wage: If the customer or any member of their cohabitation unit is a recipient of the minimum, the income criteria defined in point one will be applied. Additionally, the joint household income will be considered to verify if the necessary requirements are met.
- Pensioners in the Social Security System (retirement or permanent disability): all members of the family unit are Social Security pensioners, receive the minimum pension (for retirement or permanent disability) and have an annual income less than or equal to 1 time the IPREM (€8,400).
- Officially registered large family: those whose annual income is less than 2 times the IPREM (€16,800).
In the case of meeting the requirements, severely vulnerable customers are entitled to a discount on their bill, also in accordance with RDL 4/2024, dated 24 June, subject to annual consumption limits:
- 80% discount until 30 September 2024.
- 72.5% discount from 1 October to 31 December 2024.
- 65% discount from 1 January to 31 March 2025.
- 57.5% discount from 1 April to 30 June 2025.
- 50% discount starting 1 July 2025.
Severely vulnerable customers at risk of social exclusion
This special category encompasses those who meet the following two conditions:
- They are considered severely vulnerable customers (see above).
- They receive support from the social services of a regional or local administration co-financing at least 50% of their electricity bills.
In these circumstances, you will not have to pay the electricity bill and, in the event of temporary impossibility to pay, the electricity supply cannot be interrupted.
Prohibition on Supply Interruption for Social Bonus Beneficiaries
Social Bonus beneficiaries currently have a 4 month-period to pay outstanding bills, compared to the 2 months allowed for other consumers.
Additionally, vulnerable or severely vulnerable consumers who meet the following conditions and are accredited by a Social Services report will also be considered essential for the purposes of preventing supply cut-offs:
- Household with at least one child under 16 years of age.
- Any member of the household with a recognised disability equal to or greater than 33%.
- Any member of the household in a recognised grade 2 or 3 dependency situation.
Currently, there is a prohibition on cutting off electricity supply to vulnerable domestic consumers (Social Bonus beneficiaries), effective until the end of 2024.
Other vulnerable or severely vulnerable customers deemed essential for the purposes of supply cuts
In addition to the above, vulnerable or severely vulnerable consumers who meet the following conditions and are accredited in a report from Social Services, will also be considered essential for the purposes of supply cuts:
- Cohabitation unit with at least one child under the age of 16
- Any member of the cohabitation unit has a recognised disability equal to or greater than 33%.
- Any member of the cohabitation unit is in a situation of recognised grade 2 or 3 dependency.
Energy Justice Electricity Bonus
The social bonus for low-income workers ends on 30/06/2024, so there will be no extension for these consumers to continue benefiting from the Social Bonus.
| Family Composition | Annual IPREM 14 payments |
|---|---|
| 1 adult | 12.600€ |
| 1 adult + 1 child | 16.800€ |
| 2 adults | 15.120€ |
| 2 adults + 1 child | 19.320€ |
| 2 adults + 2 children | 23.520€ |
Maximum annual income (€).
Restrictions on electricity consumption
Social Bonus discounts on the total bill are subject to electricity consumption restrictions. Once this limit has been exceeded, energy will be invoiced in accordance with the prices in the regulated tariff (PVPC), without discount.
RDL 18/2022 extends the energy kilowatt-hours threshold that provides en entitlement to a discount for all beneficiaries of the Social Bonus by 15%, as follows:
| Consumer category | Maximum annual consumption limit (kWh) |
|---|---|
|
1.587 |
|
2.222 |
|
2.698 |
|
4.761 |
Applying is free
Fraudulent websites have been detected that charge a fee in exchange for handling the application for the Social Bonus. Please remember that applying for the Social Bonus is absolutely free of charge. Do not agree to pay to open an application and do not give out your card number.
What documentation do you need to request the Social Rate
What documentation do I need to have
Where to find the documentation
|
Documentation |
Vulnerable / Severely vulnerable consumer |
Where can you obtain the documentation |
|---|---|---|
|
Social Rate Form completed and signed by the entire family unit. |
- |
|
|
Photocopy of the NIF or NIE of the holder and all members of the family unit (including those above the age of 14 capable of working and those younger than 14 who have one). |
- | - |
|
In the event the holder forms part of a family unit, the family register or certification of the individual sheet of the Civil Registry for each one of the members of the family unit. In the event of not forming part of a family unit, the individual sheet of the Civil Register or any document issued by the competent authority that accredits the civil status of the applicant. |
- |
|
|
Valid (non expired) City registration, individual or group, of the holder and all members of the family unit. |
- |
|
|
Photocopy of a valid large family card. |
Only applicable to large families. |
|
Social Services Certificate from the competent agency of from one designated by the autonomous Community, certifying Special Circumstances:
|
Only applicable to Special Circumstances. |
|
| Proof of being a recipient of the Minimum Vital Income. * | Only necessary in case of being a beneficiary of the Minimum Vital Income. | National Institute of Social Security (INSS) |
*Only necessary if you live in the following Autonomous Communities: Catalonia, the Basque Country or Navarra.
How to apply for the Social Rate
The social rebate is part of the regulated energy market. As such, regulated market traders (leading suppliers) are the only power companies authorised to offer the social rebate.
Endesa is a free-market company. In order to apply for the social rebate, you must contact one of the regulated market traders. They will handle procedures and inform you whether your application has been accepted or rejected:
Has your Social Bonus expired? Find out what you need to do to renew your Social Bonus.
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