Wohngeld Feststellung

§§ 22 ff. Housing Benefit Act (WoGG)
§§ Sections 22 et seq. of the Housing Benefit Act (WoGG)

You can receive housing benefit as a tenant (so-called rent subsidy) or as an owner for owner-occupied housing (so-called encumbrance subsidy).

Housing benefit is calculated separately in each individual case - on the basis of the so-called housing benefit formula. In the calculation, the actual rent is subsidized up to a maximum amount. The maximum amounts depend on the local rent level, the so-called rent levels.

If your financial situation or your living circumstances have deteriorated or changed during the approval period, you can apply for an increase in housing benefit at any time.

You must attach the following documents to the completed application form:

Current proof of rent or charges, in particular:

• Rental agreement,
• current statement of operating costs, if applicable,
• for owners: Proof of existing loans taken out for the purchase, construction or modernization of the home or condominium,
• for owners: current property tax assessment.

Current proof of income of all household members, e.g.

• Wage and salary statements for the last few months,
• current pension statement,
• Current notification of receipt of other social benefits (e.g. unemployment benefit, parental benefit, maintenance advance, sickness benefit),
• Proof of maintenance payments,
• Proof of interest and other investment income (e.g. for savings accounts, fixed-term deposits, call money, building society savings contracts, funds); in particular tax certificates.

Other evidence (if available), e.g.

Disability certificate and notification of long-term care insurance benefits.

Whether and to what extent you can claim housing benefit depends on various factors, the main ones being

1. How high is your total income?
2. How high is your rent, or your monthly rent if you own your own home?
3. How many household members do you have and what is their income?

Re 1: The total income is the sum of the annual incomes of all household members to be taken into account. Certain allowances and deductions for maintenance payments can be deducted from this. The calculation of income is based on the Income Tax Act, i.e. the taxable positive income is decisive, supplemented by a catalog of tax-free income to be taken into account. Ten percent must be deducted from this if taxes on income, contributions to statutory health and long-term care insurance or contributions to statutory pension insurance are paid during the approval period.

If all three of these or similar payments are made, the deduction amount is 30 percent.

Re 2: Rent is the agreed remuneration for the use of living space on the basis of a rental agreement. Burdens for owners are the expenses for debt servicing and the management of the property. The basis for calculating the housing benefit is the so-called gross rent. The rent does not include, for example, heating costs and costs for heating water. Household electricity and payments for the use of a garage or parking space for motor vehicles are also not included.

The rent or charge is only eligible up to certain maximum amounts. The maximum amounts depend on the local rent level, the so-called rent levels, and the number of household members to be taken into account.

Re 3: Household members are the person entitled to housing benefit and other persons expressly named in the Housing Benefit Act if they share the dwelling for which housing benefit is claimed with the person entitled to housing benefit. This home must be the center of living relations for each person named. All household members are taken into account if they are not excluded from housing benefit. You are excluded from housing benefit if you receive transfer benefits (other social benefits) that already include housing costs, e.g. basic income support for jobseekers (unemployment benefit II) or basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.

Students and trainees living alone who are entitled to BAföG or Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB) are also not entitled to housing benefit, even if BAföG or BAB was rejected due to their parents' income being too high.

For details, please contact your local housing benefit authority.

If your financial situation or living circumstances have improved or changed, this may also lead to a reduction in housing benefit. You are obliged to inform the housing benefit authority immediately of any changes that could lead to a reduction in housing benefit.

In order to avoid or uncover unlawful claims for housing benefit, the housing benefit authority may regularly check the household members by means of a so-called data comparison.

• Appeal

You will find further information on how to lodge an objection in the notification of your application for housing benefit.

You can receive housing benefit as a tenant (so-called rent subsidy) or as an owner for owner-occupied housing (so-called encumbrance subsidy). To receive housing benefit, you must submit an application to your local housing benefit authority.

You can obtain the application form with attachment from the relevant housing benefit authority or download it from the website of the Ministry of Finance.

Forms from the Ministry for Regional Identity, Communities and Local Government, Building and Gender Equality