"It will definitely be a difficult winter for many people, especially since the poverty line is still not high enough. Next year it will be BGN 504, but I agree with the unions that it is not enough because it does not reflect the small consumer basket".

This was stated by the ombudsman Diana Kovacheva in "The day begins with Georgi Ljubenov".

Diana Kovacheva was born in Sofia in 1975. She graduated in law at Sofia University "St. Kliment.

"About 300,000 pensioners will remain below the poverty threshold, that's why I turned to the Minister of Labor with a recommendation that the poverty line should become BGN 504 before the end of this year," she said.

Business approved: The poverty line becomes BGN 504

According to her, there will be difficulties for people with disabilities and those who rely on social assistance.

"They are tied to a guaranteed minimum income, which is BGN 75. It is so absurd and empty of content, and people have no way to cope. Social benefits should also be tied to the poverty line," commented Kovacheva.

She defined as a victory the correction of the bills by "Toplofikatsia Sofia" due to the wrongly charged VAT.

Customers of "Toplofikatsia" Sofia will receive between 10 and 15 BGN back

"The National Assembly adopted changes so that for customers of the heating systems, the VAT is 9%, not 20%. I followed how this measure will be implemented and unfortunately I found that "Sofia Heating" in violation of the law collects 20% VAT. I would prefer to imagine it as a mistake, although I am surprised because it is clear to any lawyer that tax laws are always forward-looking and very conservative.After I referred the NRA and the Ministry of Finance, they responded immediately, the very next day and it was expected that "Toplofication" would start returning this money to the people very quickly. Unfortunately, it was delayed and I had to write a second time."

All "Toplofikatsia Sofia" subscribers who received invoices after July 9 will have to receive new ones.

Those who have already paid should be careful not to pay a second time - their accounts should have a written record of what should be returned to them.

Those who have waited should check if the amount has actually been adjusted.

"The chaos is huge, but I am glad that it was resolved in favor of the people, because BGN 3 million is not a small and negligible amount at all," commented Diana Kovacheva

Diana Kovacheva was born in Sofia in 1975. She graduated in law at Sofia University "St. Kliment.

The ombudsman called for mandatory compensation for gas users, as well as for people who heat with wood and pellets.

Kovacheva showed data, according to which the prices of firewood and pellets have jumped more than 69%, times more than the annual inflation.

That is why the Commission for the Protection of Competition has appealed.

"They have to answer why, on the condition that there is no reduced supply and availability of firewood, supplies are limited and prices are rising. Whether there is a cartel, only the CPC can say," she said.

The ombudsman emphasized that in our country there is no definition of what it means to be energy poor, therefore the corresponding benefits are distributed among everyone.

"On a European and global level, it is clear what energy poverty is, and Bulgaria is one of the most energy poor in the EU, so it is clear, but changes must be made to the Energy Efficiency Act."

Diana Kovacheva

Heating Sofia

ombudsman

poverty line