When do they pay the thermal social bonus?

¿Do you know when the Thermal Social Bonus is paid?It is a type of financial aid offered by the Spanish government to its citizens and families in vulnerable situations.

What is the Thermal Social Bonus?

In Spain, winter can be quite harsh, with temperatures reaching as low as 5°C depending on the region, and in more mountainous areas, even reaching 0°C. In addition, in many places in Spain, such as the Alps, it can snow during the winter.

The Thermal Social Bonus is a social aid program established in article 5 of Decree Law 15/2018, of October 5.

Its aim is to provide financial support to low-income or vulnerable families during the winter. This enables them to cope with the expenses related to staying warm in the winter season.

This is mainly because heating and hot water systems are quite expensive and can lead to financial difficulties.

The Thermal Social Bonus exists as an urgent measure for the energy transition and consumer protection.

This aid is a complement to the Social Electricity Bonus and is intended to cover energy costs related to heating, hot water for the bathroom or kitchen, regardless of the source used.

Social Bonus Requirements

For a person to be able to access the Social Bonus, one of the main requirements is to be a beneficiary of the Electric Social Bonus on December 31 of the previous year.

Basically, the requirements of the Electric Social Bonus will apply to the Thermal Social Bonus, since only those who are part of the list of the former will have access.

This is not considered a requirement, but rather characteristics that must be met. Users must have contracted a regulated electricity tariff (PVPC) with a power of less than 10 kW.

It will also be necessary to have contracted a last resort gas tariff, although it is not mandatory.

When do they pay the thermal social bonus?

The Thermal Social Bonus is usually paid in the first quarter of the year, through a single bank transfer to the beneficiary.

In 2023, this payment was made in March, and the rates are determined according to the climatic zone and the consideration of whether it is a vulnerable or socially excluded location.

The zones are divided by colder regions, note:

• Zone A: Pamplona, Oviedo, Soria, León, Huesca, Burgos, Navarra and others;
• Zone B: Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Lugo, Zamora, Valladolid, Palencia, Cantabria and others;
• Zone C: Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Caceres, Murcia, Alicante and many more;
• Zone D: Seville, Malaga, Menorca, Ibiza, Malaga, Jaen, Mallorca, Huelva and many others.

However, the exact payment dates may vary each year and depend on specific decisions and policies of the government and relevant authorities.

For updated information on the Social Bonus, it is recommended to consult official sources, such as the official website of the benefit in Spain, the website of your autonomous community or the website of gas and electricity rates.