For around three and a half million students and technical school students, the months of waiting for the energy price flat rate should soon be over: From Wednesday onwards, everyone could apply for the one-off payment of 200 euros, said Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger of the German Press Agency.

All eligible persons can now submit their application on the "Einmalgeld200.de" platform set up by the federal and state governments for this purpose. "The processing of the applications and the payment will take place very quickly thanks to the automated process," said the FDP politician. The money is intended as a relief for the sharp rise in energy prices.

Already paid out 3.5 million euros

The application platform had been tested in a pilot project with several universities in the past few weeks. According to the ministry, more than 3.5 million euros have been paid out to around 18,000 applicants.

Students and technical students who are enrolled at a university or in a technical school as of December 1, 2022 are eligible. A domicile or "habitual abode" in Germany is required. At technical schools, for example, educators, technicians and business economists are trained. The energy price flat rate should neither be taxed nor offset against any social benefits.