Background information

On 31 August 2022, the Parliament unanimously passed two laws to cushion the effects of the rising energy prices on households and businesses. Temporary measures to mitigate the effects of rising costs on the most vulnerable groups act (Zakon o začasnih ukrepih za odpravo posledic draginje za najranljivejše skupine prebivalstva, ZZUOPD) endows the right of one-time support to households which cannot make ends meet due to rising energy prices. The measure covers households receiving social benefits or income support or will become eligible to obtain one of the two social supports until 31 March 2023.

Content of measure

Support for energy bills is a one-time monetary compensation for households receiving either social benefits or income support. The amount of support depends on the size of a household:

• €200 for a one-person household
• €200 for a one-parent family plus €118 for each child or €59 if a child participates in the care and education system
• €314 for a two-parent family plus €118 for each child or €59 if a child participates in the care and education system
• €314 for a two-person household
• €200 for a disabled person

The measure will be in force from 1 August 2022 to 31 March 2023. The government estimates that about 63,000 or 71,000 households will be entitled to one-time energy support. The number is not final, given that the eased conditions for obtaining social benefits (during the validity period of the measure, the claimant property except savings and financial assets will not enter into the calculation of social benefits) may increase the number of eligible households. The state will also abstain from claiming the recompensation for energy support from the beneficiary’s heritage.

One-time energy support is automatic, and no application is required. The first payoff will occur in November 2022. The total costs for the state intervention are estimated at a minimum of €18.4 million and a maximum of €41.1 million.

Use of measure

Unknown.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Disabled People on social benefits

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The social partner organisations, members of the Economic and Social Council (ESS), discussed the draft law at the ESS meeting.

Views and reactions

The Association of free trade unions of Slovenia - ZSSS proposed that people earning less than €841.93 a month (“labouring poor”) should also receive one-time energy support. The position of the Ministry of Labour remained unchanged. It claimed that support for energy bills targets households, not individuals and that the measure also covers low-earning employees if they live in vulnerable households.

Sources

• 31 August 2022: Temporary measures to mitigate the effects of rising costs on the most vulnerable groups act (Zakon o začasnih ukrepih za odpravo posledic draginje za najranljivejše skupine prebivalstva, ZZUOPD (imss.dz-rs.si)
• 31 August 2022: MMC SLO, The Parliament passed the energy allowance for the most vulnerable, money for firefighters and aid to the economy (Državni zbor sprejel energetski dodatek za najranljivejše, denar za gasilce in pomoč gospodarstvu (www.rtvslo.si)
• 31 August 2022: The Association of Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS), The temporary measures to mitigate the effects of rising costs on the most vulnerable groups act (proposal (www.zsss.si)
• 03 October 2022: Law on temporary measures to mitigate the effects of the dearness on beneficiaries of child benefit (Zakon o začasnih ukrepih za omilitev posledic draginje za upravičence do otroškega dodatka, ZZUODOD (www.uradni-list.si)