Erfurt (dpa/th) – The demand for energy advice has skyrocketed at the Thuringia Consumer Center (VZTH). From August 2021 to August of the current year, the number has quintupled, said a VZTH spokeswoman on Friday. By autumn 2021, this complex of topics had taken one of the lower ranks in the consultations.
After the sharp rise in gas prices and the announcement of the gas surcharge from October 1st, many consumers no longer have enough money to pay the bills, according to the VZTH. When the bill comes, gas customers should first check whether it is correct at all and whether the meter number and reading are correct and the payments have been booked correctly. If errors were discovered, they should be reported.
If the one-off additional payment is so high that it cannot be paid from income in the month in which the invoice is issued, there may be a claim to additional benefits from the job center or social welfare office. “This possibility also exists for people who have never received social benefits,” said consumer advocates. The job center and social welfare office are obliged to cover rental and heating costs. This also applies to additional payments. According to this information, pensioners can claim temporary supplementary basic security in old age from the social welfare office in the event of one-off high additional payments.
