Reduction of subsidies: who is left out in February 2026

The Ministry of Economy has implemented significant changes to the energy benefits scheme. Starting in February, thousands of users will be excluded from electricity and gas subsidies as the government enforces a fiscal restriction policy agreed with the IMF. The measure mainly affects middle- and upper-middle-income sectors, maintaining assistance only for those who need it most.

Users who will be excluded from the new subsidy scheme

Disposición 2/2026 published in the Official Gazette establishes stricter criteria for accessing energy benefits. It is estimated that approximately 80,000 users will lose access to these subsidies under the new system. The change aims to reduce public spending while maintaining protection for the most vulnerable sectors.

The government will cross-reference information between Anses and ARCA to determine who will continue receiving assistance. Those already registered in RASE (Energy Subsidy Access Registry) will not need to complete additional procedures, provided their situation has not changed.

The new ReSEF system: how to access benefits

The administration has launched the Focused Energy Subsidies Registry (ReSEF) with a digital form now available. The process will be mandatory for those receiving financial aid for electricity, gas, and gas cylinders, and must be completed as a sworn declaration in digital format.

Users experiencing changes in family composition or economic situation must update their information digitally or in person at Anses offices. The new mechanism aims to simplify access while focusing resources on those who need it most.

Specific requirements to maintain subsidies

The analysis will include both income and assets of the entire household. Homes with income exceeding three times the total basic basket (CBT), currently at $3.93 million, are excluded.

Additionally, benefits are not available to those who own:

• A car less than three years old (unless they have a disability certificate)
• Three or more properties among all household members
• Luxury boats, airplanes, or corporate assets

Conversely, households with at least one member holding a Family Housing Certificate, a lifetime pension for Falklands War veterans, or a Single Disability Certificate (CUD) automatically qualify as beneficiaries.

Changes compared to the previous system

The new scheme replaces the three-tier income segmentation that has been in place since 2022. The previous structure allowed differentiated access based on income categories. Now, a simpler binary model is adopted: who retains the benefit and who is excluded, based on combined income and asset criteria.

This transformation aims for greater efficiency in resource allocation, concentrating state assistance on households that genuinely need support to access essential energy services.