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Applying for housing benefit for the first time or again

Housing allowance First application
Housing benefit Rent subsidy Initial application
Housing benefit Rent subsidy Application for continued benefits
Please note in particular our information under:

  • Service description

    You can apply for housing benefit if you have a low income above the basic income support level and belong to one of these groups:

    • Pensioners with a low pension
    • Working families, single parents and couples with low incomes
    • Employees in the low-wage sector
    • Students, unless the entire household is entitled to BAföG
    • Residents of nursing homes

    You can claim housing benefit as

    • receive a rent subsidy. This applies if, for example:
      • have rented living space
      • Occupying living space as a subtenant
      • live in an institution, for example for people with disabilities
    • You can also receive an encumbrance allowance if you own your own home or a condominium.

    As a rule, you will be granted housing benefit for 12 months. If your income remains the same, the authorisation period can be up to 24 months. After that, you must submit an application for continued benefit.

    If the costs of accommodation are covered by another social benefit provider, you are not entitled to housing benefit. This is the case, for example, with

    • Citizen's income
    • Basic security in old age
    • Basic income support in the event of reduced earning capacity
    • Assistance with living expenses

    Furthermore, people who receive one of the following benefits do not receive housing benefit:

    • Promotion of training in accordance with the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)
    • Vocational training allowance and training allowance
    • Securing a livelihood while participating in the special programme "Promoting the professional mobility of young people interested in training and unemployed skilled workers from Europe" (MobiPro-EU)

    This also applies if you are only entitled to these benefits on the merits. In these cases, the benefit will only be denied in terms of the amount. However, if at least one member of your household is not entitled to receive one of these benefits, for example the child of a single parent or the parents of students, you are still entitled to housing benefit. This also applies if you receive the benefits exclusively as a loan.

    All regions in Germany are categorised into 7 different rent levels, as rents vary greatly. The upper income limits for entitlement to housing benefit vary accordingly. You can use a housing benefit calculator to work out in advance whether you are entitled to housing benefit. If you have a fluctuating income, create an income forecast based on the past 12 months.

    A special case exists if you have to move to another home as a result of a flood disaster because your previous home is no longer habitable. In this case, you can also apply for housing benefit for rooms that are only intended for temporary living. These can be, for example

    • Caravan
    • Houseboats

    Emergency accommodation such as dormitories, schools or gymnasiums do not count as living space. You only need to submit documents and evidence that may have been destroyed within 6 months. If living space for which you are already receiving housing benefit has become uninhabitable, this decision becomes invalid.

    Special information for - Salzlandkreis district

  • Procedure

    • You submit your application in writing using the form provided or by using the online service.
    • You can send the form by post to the housing benefit office responsible for you or hand it in in person.
    • The authority will check your application and send you a decision.
    • If approved, housing benefit is generally granted for 12 months.

  • Who should I contact?

    Housing benefit authority

  • Prerequisites

    You are entitled to a rent subsidy as:

    • Tenants of residential property
    • Subtenant and subtenant of living space
    • Residents of a co-operative or foundation flat
    • Residents of a care home
    • Tenant-like authorised users, in particular holders of a tenant-like permanent right of residence
    • Owners of an apartment building with three or more flats, a commercial building or a business if you live in this building
    • Owners of a detached or semi-detached house in which you live, but which also contains business premises to such an extent that it can no longer be regarded as a private home
    • Owners of a full-time agricultural holding whose residential part is not separated from the farming part
    • Women who live in women's shelters
    • a person who has been placed in homeless accommodation or in third-party accommodation by the homelessness authority

    You are eligible for a housing benefit subsidy as:

    • Owners of their own home or condominium
    • Owners of a small housing estate
    • Owners of a part-time agricultural business
    • Owners of a full-time agricultural property if the residential and commercial parts are separate and a housing benefit calculation can be made for the residential part
    • Holders of a permanent right of residence similar to ownership
    • Leasehold owners and those entitled to the transfer of ownership of the building or flat or to the transfer or granting of the leasehold

    In all cases, you must live in the accommodation yourself and pay the costs yourself.

  • Which documents are required?

    • Apply for housing benefit from your competent housing benefit authority either using the appropriate form or informally by post, e-mail, fax or telephone

    Depending on your situation, you will submit documents. This includes, for example

    • Identity documents of all household members
    • Proof of your right of residence if you come from a non-EU country
    • Proof of income for all household members, for example
      • Salary statements
      • Pension certificates
      • Short-time working allowance
    • where applicable, evidence of
      • Advertising expenses
      • Severe disability
      • Degree of care
    • Proof of transfer payments from all household members, for example
      • Notice of unemployment benefit or citizen's allowance
      • Notification of basic income support with calculation sheet
      • Notice of advance maintenance payment from the youth welfare office
    • for self-employed persons: last tax assessment

    To apply for a rent subsidy, you will also need the completed

    • Landlord certificate form, which is usually provided to you by the housing benefit authorities

    You will need the following evidence, for example, to apply for an encumbrance allowance:

    • Land register extract
    • Purchase contract
    • Debt certificates for loans still to be paid
    • Calculation of living space

    If you apply for housing benefit because you have been affected by a flood disaster, you have 6 months to submit documents and evidence that may have been destroyed.

  • What fees are incurred?

    There are no costs.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    You submit the application no later than the last day of the month from which you wish to apply for housing benefit.

  • Processing time

    The processing time depends, among other things, on the completeness of your information and the submission of the supporting documents required for processing the application.

    Longer processing times are not at your expense: the entitlement to housing benefit is checked from the month in which the application is submitted. If you are already entitled to housing benefit, you will not lose any housing benefit.

  • Legal basis

  • Legal remedy

    • Contradiction
    • Lawsuit
    • You will find further information on how to lodge an appeal or submit your complaint in the notification of your application for housing benefit.

  • What else should I know?

    You are obliged to provide all information truthfully. The housing benefit authority is authorised to check your details by comparing your data. The verification of your details is permitted up to 10 years after receipt of the housing benefit notice.

  • Further information

  • Short text

    • Housing benefit is a subsidy towards housing costs
    • can be granted as a rent subsidy or, in the case of residential property, as an encumbrance allowance
    • Prerequisite: the property is owner-occupied and the rent or charges are paid by the owner
    • is usually approved for 12 months and can be approved for up to 24 months if income remains constant
    • Thereafter, an application for continued benefits is required, which must be submitted no later than one month after the end of the authorisation period
    • Special regulations apply to victims of flood disasters and similar catastrophes
    • Application in writing or online
    • Responsible: competent housing benefit authority

  • Author

    Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal

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  • Applications / Forms


Responsible departments

Responsible employees

  • Ms FunkeSGL Assistance with care, housing benefit and funeral costs

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