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 Welfare 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 6.54 EUR (HRK 200,00). 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 by 31 December 2022 to the social welfare centre, and as of 1 January 2023 to the Croatian Social Welfare Institute.

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

Pursuant to the decision adopted by the competent institute, the beneficiary of the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers is entitled to subsidisation of their electricity costs for the month in which this right was recognised and each following month until the competent institute issues a decision on the termination of the right to the allowance for vulnerable energy buyers.