Some 5.8 million households in France are due to benefit from an exceptional chèque énergie (energy cheque) this month but the date of reception will differ between departments.
The one-off €100 payment was announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex in September, and aims to assist low-income households with their winter energy bills amid rapidly rising prices.
Read more: Nearly 6 million households in France to get €100 energy bill bonus
It will be posted automatically to households which already receive an annual energy cheque, in addition to their usual payment.
To benefit, your household income must fall below a certain threshold (€10,800 for a single person or one consumption unit).
A consumption unit is calculated on the basis that one person represents one unit, the second person 0.5 of a unit, and each additional person 0.3 of a unit.
You can work out whether you are eligible for the energy cheque via this government calculator.
The distribution of cheques depends on the department in which you live.
In the week of December 13, it will be posted to people in:
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Haute-Savoie (74), Isère (38), Ain (01), Savoie (73), Drôme (26), Allier (03), Haute-Loire (43), Rhône (69), Ardèche (07), Loire (42), Cantal (15), Puy-de-Dôme (63)
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: Territoire de Belfort (90), Haute-Saône (70), Doubs (25), Jura (39), Saône-et-Loire (71), Nièvre (58), Yonne (89), Côte-d’Or (21)
Brittany: Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Côtes-d’Armor (22), Finistère (29), Morbihan (56)
Centre-Val de Loire: Eure-et-Loir (28), Loir-et-Cher (41), Cher (18), Loiret (45), Indre (36), Indre-et-Loire (37)
Corsica (20)
DOM: Guadeloupe (971), Guyane (973), Réunion (974), Mayotte (976), Martinique (972)
Grand Est: Ardennes (08), Marne (51), Meuse (55), Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Moselle (57), Vosges (88), Haut-Rhin (68), Haute-Marne (52), Aube (10).
Hauts-de-France: Pas-de-Calais (62), Nord (59), Somme (80), Aisne (02), Oise (60)
Ile-de-France: Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), Val-de-Marne (94), Paris (75), Essonne (91), Hauts-de-Seine (92), Val-d’Oise (95).
Normandy: Orne (61), Seine-Maritime (76), Eure (27), Calvados (14), Manche (50)
Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Deux-Sèvres (79), Creuse (23), Corrèze (19)
Pays de la Loire: Sarthe (72), Mayenne (53), Maine-et-Loire (49), Vendée (85), Loire-Atlantique (44)
In the week of December 20, it will be delivered to:
Grand Est: Bas-Rhin (67)
Nouvelle Aquitaine: Haute-Vienne (87), Vienne (86), Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Gironde (33), Dordogne (24), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), Landes (40)
Occitanie: Gers (32), Hautes-Pyrénées (65), Pyrénées Orientales (66), Haute-Garonne (31), Ariège (09), Lot (46), Aveyron (12), Tarn-et-Garonne (82), Tarn (81), Aude (11), Hérault (34), Lozère (48), Gard (30)
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: Vaucluse (84), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes de Haute Provence (04), Var (83)
You can find out more on this government calendar.
Once received, the cheque, which can only be used to pay for energy bills, can either be posted to your energy provider or submitted via your online account.
If you believe that you are eligible for the cheque but do not receive it, you can call the chèque énergie helpline on 0805 204 805 from Monday to Friday, 08:00 until 20:00.
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