November 2025
⭐ Understanding the Chèque Énergie in France
The Chèque Énergie is a financial aid from the French government to help low-income households pay their energy bills. It has existed since 2018, and around 3.8 million households normally receive it automatically each year. However, in recent years, the system for identifying who is eligible has changed — and many people who should have received the cheque did not get it. The government has now created a new system to make sure no one is forgotten.
This article explains everything simply: what the cheque is, who is entitled, and how to get it if you were not identified automatically.
🔹 What Is the Chèque Énergie?
The Chèque Énergie is a financial aid, usually around €150 on average, sent once a year to help people pay for:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Heating oil
- Wood or pellets
- Energy bills included in rent
You can also use it to pay for energy renovation work in your home (through RGE-approved companies).
It is not a voucher and not a loan — you don’t have to pay it back.
🔹 Why Are Some People Missing Out?
Until 2023, the government used the Taxe d’habitation declaration to identify families who qualified.but the Taxe d’habitation has now been removed, which made identification more complicated. The government now uses other information sources, but the system is far from perfect.
Associations estimate that in 2024, around 1 million eligible people did not receive their cheque.
🔹 New for This Year: You Can Ask for the Cheque Yourself
To avoid leaving people behind, the government has created a new online portal where anyone who thinks they are eligible can request a cheque if they did not receive one automatically.
This request system will stay open until 28 February 2026.
You may already have been contacted in October by:
- SMS
- letter
to explain the eligibility conditions and the steps to follow.
🔹 Who Is Eligible for the Chèque Énergie?
Eligibility depends mainly on:
- Your household income
- The number of people in your home
- Your reference taxable income (RFR) per household unit
Most people who receive the cheque are low-income or modest-income households.
You do not need to be retired and you do not need to apply every year if the government identifies you automatically.
🔹 How to Claim the Cheque If You Didn’t Receive It
If you think you should have received the cheque but did not, you can make a claim in two ways:
✔ 1. Online
Use the new official online portal (
✔ 2. By post
You can send a request by mail if you prefer, using the forms provided on the portal or by the administration.
You will have until 28 February 2026 to submit your request.
Last year, when a similar claims system was set up, 172,000 people made a request — so don’t hesitate. You have nothing to lose.
🔹When Will the Cheque Arrive This Year?
Normally, the cheque is sent in spring each year but this year, because of delays with the 2025 budget, the payment will be sent in November instead.
From 2026 onward, the cheque will return to its usual spring schedule.
🔹 Key Points to Remember
- The Chèque Énergie helps low-income households pay energy bills.
- The average amount is around €150.
- Identification has become harder since the Taxe d’habitation was removed.
- Up to 1 million people may have been missed in 2024.
- A new portal allows anyone eligible to request their cheque manually.
- Requests are open until 28 February 2026.
- This year’s cheque will be paid in November instead of spring.
✅ Chèque Énergie – Checklist
Are you eligible?
You may be, if you have modest income and pay energy bills in your main home.
If you don’t get it automatically
You can apply:
✔ Online (via the portal mentioned in the message)
✔ By post (paper form)
4️⃣ Deadline
🗓 Apply before 28 February 2026.
5️⃣ When it arrives
This year: November.
From 2026: Spring.
6️⃣ Use it to pay
Your electricity, gas, fuel, wood, or heating bills, or energy renovations.