We looked in particular at the energy allowance that only low-income households received. It was an amount of around 1300 euros, which was paid through the municipalities. ABN researcher Jeannine van Reeken is surprised at how quickly the money has been spent. “Most of the money was withdrawn in the first week, so it’s fast.” The fact that the money was spent so quickly, according to Reeken, also has to do with the level of energy prices at the time. “It hadn’t grown into many people yet.”
However, ABN does not know what the money was spent on. “People would have anticipated future expenses, for example. We do not know.’ However, targeted support for low-income families appears to have helped. “It was aimed at the target group and also aimed at the target you want to fight.”