The program “Meter Assistance” this year consists of two types of assistance – subsidies in natural gas, electricity and heat bills and cold-month allowances in the form of monetary payment of 800 lei for households using solid sources of energy. The applicants for subsidies will be divided into seven energy vulnerability categories, by two categories more than last year, IPN reports.

The decision was approved by the Cabinet on Friday. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the changes come to increase equity by providing assistance during the winter season, by better targeting poor families, by adjusting the subsidies depending on the residence area and energy charges and by introducing an additional score for families that have persons with disabilities in their composition.

The families with small children will be able to get higher subsidies as the child benefit and other types of allowances intended for families with children will be excluded from the global income of the household in their case.

In the 2023-2024 winter season, subsidies for energy will be provided only to households that will register on the platform compensatii.gov.md. Applicants will be able to register between November 1 and November 25 inclusive. If applications are submitted after November 25, subsidies will be provided starting with the next month.