Nearly 17,900 residents of Vienna could be required to repay the city’s Energy Bonus after it was discovered that 1.3% of recipients exceeded the income limits set for the scheme.

The payments, distributed in 2022 and 2023, were part of a €265 million programme aimed at easing the impact of rising energy costs.

Audits

The bonus was open to single-person households with an annual income of up to €40,000 and multi-person households earning up to €100,000. Over the two years, the city processed 1,327,397 applications. However, post-payment audits identified 17,864 cases where applicants’ incomes surpassed the permitted limits.

Affected individuals will receive letters explaining the findings. Recipients found to have wrongly claimed the bonus in one year will be required to repay €200. Those who received the bonus in both years will need to return €400.

If individuals can prove they met the income criteria, however, no repayment will be required. Even after a repayment notice is issued, affected residents can contact an MA40 service hotline to discuss their case.

Energy Bonus to End

The Energy Bonus was described by city officials as a “swift and straightforward measure to ease the burden of unprecedented price increases in the energy markets.” However, with a reorganisation of rent and housing subsidies underway, Vienna plans to phase out one-off financial support measures. As a result, the Energy Bonus will not be offered next year.