You can apply for housing assistance if you have a low income that exceeds the basic income support threshold and belong to one of the following groups:

• Retirees with a low pension
• Working families, single parents, and low-income couples
• Low-wage workers
• Students, unless the entire household is eligible for BAföG
• Residents of nursing homes

You may be eligible for housing assistance as

• rental subsidy. This applies if, for example, you:
  • rent a residence
  • live in a residence as a subtenant
  • live in a facility, such as one for people with disabilities
• You may be eligible for a mortgage subsidy if you own a single-family home or a condominium.

As a rule, housing assistance is granted for 12 months. If your income remains the same, the grant period can be extended to up to 24 months. After that, you must submit an application for continued benefits.

If your housing costs are covered by another social services provider, you are not eligible for housing assistance. This is the case, for example, with:

• Citizen’s Income
• Basic Income Support for the Elderly
• Basic Income Support for Reduced Earning Capacity
• Living Expense Assistance

Furthermore, individuals who receive any of the following benefits are not eligible for housing assistance:

• Educational Assistance under the BAföG Act
• Vocational training allowance and training stipend
• Livelihood support during participation in the special program “Promotion of Professional Mobility for Young People Interested in Training and Unemployed Skilled Workers from Europe” (MobiPro-EU)

This also applies if you are only entitled to these benefits in principle. In such cases, the benefit is denied only in terms of the amount. However, if at least one member of your household is not eligible to receive one of these benefits—for example, the child of a single parent or the parents of a student—you are still entitled to housing assistance. This entitlement applies even if you receive the benefits exclusively as a loan.

All regions in Germany are divided into 7 different rent tiers, as rent prices vary significantly. Accordingly, the income limits for housing allowance eligibility differ. You can use a housing allowance calculator to determine in advance whether you are eligible for housing allowance. If your income fluctuates, create an income forecast based on the past 12 months.

A special case applies if you have to move to another residence due to a flood disaster because your previous residence is no longer habitable. In that case, you can also apply for housing assistance for accommodations intended only for temporary residence. These may include, for example:

• Trailers
• Houseboats

Emergency shelters such as sleeping quarters, schools, or gymnasiums do not count as living quarters. You only need to submit any documents or proof that may have been destroyed within 6 months. If living quarters for which you are already receiving housing assistance have become uninhabitable, that decision becomes invalid.