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 low pensions
• 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 in the form of

• rental subsidy. This applies if, for example, you:
  • rent a residence
  • live in a residence as a subtenant
  • live in a facility, for example, 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 agency, 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
• Living expenses coverage while participating 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 also applies if you receive the benefits exclusively as a loan.

All regions in Germany are divided into 7 different rent brackets, 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 temporary 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.

Do you earn very little money?
And you don’t receive any other assistance for your housing?
Then you may be eligible for housing assistance.

The following people are eligible for housing assistance:

• Families with low incomes
• Single parents with low income
• Couples with low incomes
• Low-wage workers
• Students who do not receive BAföG, for all members of the household
• People with small pensions
• People in facilities for people with disabilities
• People in nursing homes

This applies to:

• Tenants
• Subtenants
• People who own their own home
  or their own apartment.

How much housing assistance do you receive?
That depends on two things:

• How much do you earn?
• How much is the rent?

There are two types of housing assistance:

• Rent subsidy for renters
• Property tax subsidy for homeowners

Do you own a multi-family home?
Or do you own a commercial building?
Or do you run a farm?
Then you may also be eligible for housing assistance.

Do you want to receive housing assistance?
Then you’ll need to submit an application.
To do this, you’ll need to go to the housing assistance office.
You’ll need to bring various documents with you.
For example:

• Identification documents
• Proof of income
• Benefit payments.

You can also submit the application in a different way.
For example:

• in writing
• by email
• by fax
• by phone

Do you need to renew your housing allowance?
You must do this no later than 1 month after it expires.
The renewal is usually valid for 12 months.
If your income remains the same, it can last up to 24 months.

Could you qualify for more housing assistance?
You’ll need to submit an application for that as well.
You must notify the housing assistance office.
You must do this immediately if any of the following changes occur:

• The combined income of everyone living in your home has decreased by 15 percent.
• Your rent increases by more than 15 percent.
• More people are moving into your home.

Are you already receiving housing assistance?
Then you must always report these important changes immediately:

• Your income increases.
  But only if it increases by more than 15 percent.
• Your rent goes down.
  But only if it decreases by more than 15 percent.
• There are fewer people living in your apartment.
  For example:
  One person moves out.

You must also report:

• You own your apartment.
  This means:
  The apartment belongs to you.
• Your income is increasing.
  But only if it increases by more than 15 percent.

Sometimes you won’t even find out about the changes until later.
In that case, your housing allowance will be reduced retroactively.