Economy Minister Roland Lescure detailed conditions for a new government aid targeting nearly 3 million modest high-mileage drivers affected by soaring fuel prices. The measure, averaging 20 euro cents per liter, will be available from May via an online platform on impots.gouv.fr.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on April 21 a package of aid measures in response to the energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict. Among them is a specific scheme for around 3 million modest 'high-mileage drivers,' such as home care aides or freelance nurses.
To qualify, households must have incomes below the median – about 17,000 euros annually for a single person, up to 50,000 euros for a couple with two children – and live at least 15 km from their workplace, equating to 30 km daily. Certain professions must justify 8,000 km annually for work. 'We will ask you to declare your mileage,' Economy Minister Roland Lescure explained on Franceinfo.
The aid, a one-time lump sum, averages 20 euro cents per liter for April, May, and June, retroactively. Applications will be online via a dedicated app on impots.gouv.fr, operational by late May. Meanwhile, fishermen's aid rises to 30-35 cents per liter, farmers' to 15 cents for GNR, with talks underway for truckers, construction firms, and taxi drivers.
These measures build on prior aids totaling tens of millions of euros and will be funded by 6 billion euros in budget savings, without tax hikes or extra debt, the government stated. The crisis will cost around 6 billion euros in debt servicing and aids, Lescure estimated.
