According to a media report, more than two million pensioners will receive the energy price lump sum of 300 euros twice.

"Around 2.05 million pensioners are entitled to the energy price flat rate as employees and as pensioners," the "Welt am Sonntag" quoted the Ministry of Social Affairs as saying. The two services should be considered separately. Retirees could be eligible in "both groups of people". The website of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs states: "The payments are not mutually exclusive."

The number is made up of 0.9 million pensioners who are in employment subject to social security contributions and 1.15 million who have a mini job. The report said that, according to the German pension insurance, there would be 95,000 insured persons who would only retire after the energy price flat rate for working people was paid out in September and before December 1st, the cut-off date for the flat rate for pensioners.

One-off payment in December

To compensate for high energy costs, pensioners will receive a one-off payment of 300 euros at the beginning of December. The Federal Council approved the corresponding draft law on Friday. Around 20 million pension and pension recipients will benefit from the cash injection. Previous packages of measures by the traffic light government to relieve pensioners had not taken them directly into account. Employed people had already received an energy price flat rate of 300 euros in September.

The deputy leader of the Union faction, Hermann Gröhe, spoke of a poorly crafted law. "I cannot understand that the Federal Government and above all the Federal Minister of Labor accept with their eyes that the energy price flat rate will probably lead to double payments for several million pensioners," he told the "Welt am Sonntag".