Energy price flat rate, lower fuel tax, one-off payment - after hours of wrangling on Thursday night, the top politicians from the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on another relief package because of the sharp rise in energy prices.

According to this, all employees receive a flat-rate energy price allowance of 300 euros as a salary supplement.

This "is intended to cushion further hardship in the area of ​​energy prices," says the resolution paper.

Payment is made via the employer's payslip.

However, the lump sum is subject to income tax, so that less will remain net.

The self-employed are to be relieved of a one-off reduction in their income tax prepayment.

Manfred Schaefers

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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Drivers should also be relieved of power tax by reducing the energy tax.

It is to be reduced to the European minimum for three months.

“We make sure that the reduction is passed on to consumers,” it says.

According to Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), petrol will be 30 cents cheaper per liter and diesel 14 cents cheaper.

One-time bonus of 100 euros per child

In addition, families should receive a one-time bonus of 100 euros for each child “as soon as possible”.

"The bonus is offset against the child allowance." High earners will therefore not benefit from it.

Recipients of social benefits receive another one-time payment of 100 euros per person.

"With the current energy prices, it can be assumed that by January 1, 2023, the standard requirements will reflect the high price increases and will therefore be increased appropriately." Finally, a ticket for 9 euros a month ("9 for 90") should be available in local public transport for 90 days be introduced.

The funds for the federal states would be increased accordingly. 

With the new measures, the magnitude of the first relief package is roughly the same, explained Lindner.

At that time, the federal government reported a sum of just over 15 billion euros.

According to the FDP politician, the exact amount for the new package has not yet been calculated.

It's a real compromise.

No coalition party has been able to assert itself one-to-one with its ideas.

Lindner had originally proposed a tank discount, while the Greens advocated energy money as a per capita flat rate for everyone.

The proposal for a temporary mobility allowance of up to 50 euros a month, graded according to income, was made known by SPD Vice Hubertus Heil in the Ministry of Labor.