{"id":141590,"date":"2022-06-16T12:36:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T10:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=141590"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:20","slug":"students-unlawfully-excluded-from-energy-allowance-lawyers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/06\/16\/students-unlawfully-excluded-from-energy-allowance-lawyers-say\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Students unlawfully excluded from energy allowance\u2019, lawyers say"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the light of the rising energy prices, the government decided in March to give financial support to people on low-incomes. The required statutory amendment has yet to be adopted by the House of Representatives and the Senate but applications for an allowance can already be submitted.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHoger Onderwijs Persbureau<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Amazement<\/h2>

To the amazement of the Dutch Student Union (LSVb), the government advised the municipalities not to give<\/a> students the energy allowance. \u201cThe living situation of students varies greatly\u201d, the government wrote in an explanatory memorandum<\/a>. \u201cBecause of this diversity, individual special assistance is a more suitable instrument for this group than targeted special assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

But lawyers think the advice is unlawful, reports<\/a> TV programme Nieuwsuur. Legal expert Willy Heesen argues that students \u201cas a whole\u201d cannot simply be excluded from the allowance. In his view, the fact that their living situation \u201cvaries greatly, also with regard to the energy costs and bill\u201d is, in his view and that of other lawyers, not a good reason. They expect students who take legal action against their municipality to win their case.<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t