Energy check 2026: amounts, criteria and new features

In 2026, the energy check will concern 6 million households in France, with 700,000 additional beneficiaries automatically integrated thanks to new data cross-referencing. The allocation criteria remain unchanged, they depend on the reference tax income, set at 11,000 euros per consumption unit.

Shipments begin this April 1 and last until May 2026for a check valid until March 2027. This system aims to help households pay their energy bills and to indirectly offset the increase in fuel costs, in a context where a revaluation was mentioned by Lecornu. Assigned automatically or on request, its amount remains between 48 and 277 eurossans ªtre ajusté à l’inflation.

Mathias Laffont, délégué général adjoint Stratégie et Expertise à l’French Electricity Union (UFE)sheds his light on this hot topic which is in the news, for Sud Radio.

What new award criteria?

“In reality, it is not a change in the criteria themselves, but in the automaticity of sending the check. There are two ways to receive it, either you are already identified as a beneficiary household, or you make an explicit request if you think you are eligible. Last year, 3.8 million households received the check. For 2026, they have integrated 700,000 additional households into their database. Some came forward last year and are now automatically included. The calculation criteria remain the same, they depend on the income per consumption unit. Of course, income may vary from year to year, but the calculation method and the threshold of 11,000 euros of reference tax income are maintained. »

Help for the rise in fuel prices?

« The energy check is intended to help pay part of energy bills. Concretely, it allows households to free up a little more budget for the rest. Concerning the impact on gas, the Energy Regulatory Commission specified that adjustments linked to the increases will take place in the coming months. HAS”

Which households are affected?

“These are either households which were outside the criteria last year, or households which had not benefited from automatic sending. Each year, it remains possible to make an explicit request via the platform if you think you are eligible. These 700,000 additional households therefore come from an implicit attribution of the check, identified thanks to new cross-checking of tax data and declarations. This may concern households that are already beneficiaries but not automatically included, or new beneficiaries whose situation has changed. Even small changes, such as household composition or marital status, can influence the attribution. HAS”

How much is the check?

« On average, the check is 150 euros (from 48 to 277 euros). The amount varies depending on the reference tax income and the composition of the household. The lower your income and the larger the household, the higher the check will be. The amount is not adjusted for inflation at the moment, even if we are fighting for it to be. The two elements to consider are the amount of the check and the reference tax income ceiling. Even if your income changes each year, the ceiling remains fixed, which can have an impact on eligibility. The 700,000 additional households will therefore benefit from automatic delivery from the 2026 campaign. In total, around 6 million households are eligible for the energy check. HAS”