Since the government recently extended the deadline for the cost-of-living benefits and the energy allowance, more people are expected to make use of the social support measure.

Parties present at the tripartite meeting are currently discussing ways of socially absorbing high energy costs. Ahead of the meeting, the government already decided to prolong the application deadline for both the cost-of-living benefits and the energy allowance until the end of October.

According to the Ministry for Family Affairs and Integration, the National Solidarity Fund (FNS) had received 31,000 applications by the end of August. This number accounts for both types of allowances since they can be requested through the same online form.

Beneficiaries of the cost-of-living benefits are automatically eligible for the energy allowance. However, the same does not apply vice versa, which means that the number of people receiving former support is smaller than the number of people receiving the latter.

This week, a new campaign is set to launch to make people aware of the prolonged deadline. Furthermore, the Ministry for Family Affairs and Integration has already informed the country's 30 social offices, as well as municipalities, about the new deadline.