Wohngeld in Germany: who qualifies for housing benefit and how to apply

Wohngeld is a government subsidy toward housing costs for people who have a low but self-earned income. In 2026 it is especially relevant for tenants, pensioners, families, workers with low wages, and some students who do not have enough money for housing but do not receive Bürgergeld or other basic social assistance that covers housing costs.

The benefit comes in two forms: Mietzuschuss for tenants and Lastenzuschuss for owners who live in their own home and have costs for a mortgage or for maintaining a house or apartment.

Who Wohngeld may be suitable for

Wohngeld is intended for households that fall between two situations: income is already above the level for basic social assistance, but after paying for housing there is still too little money left. That is why eligibility does not depend on one fixed limit, but on a combination of three factors:

1. how many people live in the household;
2. what income is expected during the benefit period;
3. what rent or owner-occupier housing burden is considered acceptable for the specific city or district.

In practice, Wohngeld is often checked by:

• workers with low wages, including those with a Minijob;
• families with children and single parents;
• pensioners with a small pension;
• self-employed people and business owners with unstable income;
• recipients of Arbeitslosengeld I or Kurzarbeitergeld, if they do not receive Bürgergeld;
• residents of care homes, if the other conditions are met.

Important: Wohngeld is not an automatic reimbursement for high rent. Even if an apartment is expensive, the authority counts only the amount up to the limit set for the local rent level.

Who usually does not receive Wohngeld

Wohngeld is not meant for people whose housing costs are already covered by another social benefit. Usually the benefit is not available if a person or household receives:

• Bürgergeld / Grundsicherung nach SGB II;
• Sozialhilfe or Grundsicherung im Alter under SGB XII;
• support under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz, if it already includes housing costs;
• certain types of education support when the law excludes receiving Wohngeld at the same time.

If several people live in one household, the situation can be mixed: one family member may be excluded from the calculation while another may still be eligible for Wohngeld. Cases like this are best checked with the Wohngeldstelle.

Wohngeld for students, school pupils, and trainees

For people in education, the logic is different. If a person is generally eligible for BAföG or Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB), Wohngeld will usually not be granted, even if no BAföG application was submitted or the payment turned out to be zero because of the parents’ income.

But there are exceptions. Wohngeld may be possible, for example, if:

• BAföG is no longer available because of age or because the maximum funding period has ended;
• the course of study or personal situation does not fall under BAföG/BAB;
• children or other family members live in the household and are calculated separately;
• the authority issued a BAföG refusal that confirms there is no entitlement to that benefit.

Students should first request a written assessment from the BAföG-Amt or Studierendenwerk. For the Wohngeldstelle, oral explanations are not enough; documents confirming the status matter.

How the benefit amount is calculated

The Wohngeld formula is complex, so a manual estimate based on one table often leads to mistakes. The calculation includes:

• the number of household members who count;
• the expected income during the benefit period;
• the allowable rent or owner burden;
• the municipality’s rent level, the Mietenstufe;
• statutory deductions and Freibeträge;
• components related to heating, the climate supplement, and CO2.

From January 1, 2025, Wohngeld was increased by an average of 15%, which worked out to roughly 30 euros per month for households that were already receiving the benefit. In 2026, for any practical check, you still need to use the current calculator and tables because eligibility depends on the city, family composition, and specific income.

Which income is taken into account

The Wohngeldstelle looks not only at past payments but at the income expected during the benefit period. Usually it asks for proof from previous months because that is used to test whether the forecast is realistic.

The calculation can include:

• wages, bonuses, and income from a Minijob;
• profit from self-employment or business activity;
• income from renting out property after allowable expenses;
• interest, dividends, and other capital income;
• pension income;
• Arbeitslosengeld I;
• Mutterschaftsgeld, Krankengeld, Kurzarbeitergeld;
• alimony and other regular payments.

Some benefits are not included in full or are counted under special rules. For example, Kindergeld, Kinderzuschlag, part of Elterngeld, Pflegegeld, and tax refunds may be treated differently from wages. That is why it is risky to compare yourself with somebody else’s example without a full calculation.

Which deductions reduce income

Statutory amounts and percentages are deducted from income. Typical examples include:

• flat-rate deductions for paying taxes, pension insurance, and health insurance;
• Werbungskosten for workers and pensioners;
• specific Freibeträge for single parents;
• deductions for children with their own income;
• relief for people with disabilities;
• some care and childcare expenses.

Lists of deductions in overview articles are always incomplete. If your amount is close to the eligibility threshold, it makes sense to apply or at least request a preliminary calculation rather than giving up because of an approximate online example.

Rent, Mietenstufe, and the maximum amount that counts

For tenants, the calculation usually looks at the Bruttokaltmiete: basic rent plus allowable Nebenkosten without heating and hot water. For owners, it uses the Belastung, meaning the costs connected with owner-occupied housing.

Each major city and district is assigned a Mietenstufe. The higher the level, the higher the maximum housing amount that can be included in the calculation. If the actual rent is above the limit, Wohngeld is not calculated from the full amount but from the maximum allowed amount.

Components for heating, the climate component, and CO2 are considered separately. They are built into the calculation system and do not mean that the authority will reimburse the actual heating bill euro for euro.

Are savings taken into account

Wohngeld can be refused if there are significant assets. Federal guidance uses a reference amount of 60,000 euros for one person and 30,000 euros for each additional household member. That does not mean everything above or below that line automatically decides the case: the authority assesses whether the assets are available and substantial in the specific situation.

Savings can include money in bank accounts, securities, expensive property, and real estate if it is not protected by special rules. If you have large savings, it is better to attach an explanation and supporting documents right away.

Where to calculate Wohngeld

For an initial estimate, the official Wohngeld-Plus-Rechner BMWSB is useful. It helps you understand the rough amount but does not replace the authority’s decision.

It is also useful to check the calculator for your federal state or city. Local forms often reflect regional settings, document lists, and submission methods more accurately.

How to apply

The application is submitted to the Wohngeldstelle or Wohngeldbehörde for your place of residence. In some federal states this can be done online; in others it is handled through a paper form or the city portal.

You will usually need:

• a completed Antrag auf Wohngeld;
• an identity document or Aufenthaltstitel;
• a Mietvertrag or documents relating to owner-occupied housing;
• proof of current rent and Nebenkosten;
• proof of income for all household members;
• bank statements or information about savings, if the authority asks for them;
• documents on pensions, ALG I, Krankengeld, Elterngeld, alimony, and other benefits;
• a BAföG/BAB Bescheid if the applicant is studying.

The landlord usually does not receive an automatic notification about the application. If the authority needs confirmation of the rent, it may request additional documents, but it is best to clarify first which proof is accepted in your city.

From which month it is paid and when to renew

Wohngeld is usually granted from the month in which the application is submitted, if the conditions are met. That is why you should not wait until every secondary certificate has been collected: in many cases it is safer to submit the Antrag on time and provide the remaining documents later.

The approval period depends on the authority’s decision. After the Wohngeld-Plus reform, the standard period is often up to 24 months, but shorter periods are possible, especially if income is unstable or some documents are still being checked.

If you receive a vorläufiger Wohngeldbescheid, it is a temporary decision. After the final review, the authority may pay an additional amount or require repayment of an overpayment.

It is better to apply for renewal in advance, about two months before the current Bewilligungszeitraum ends. You can ask for a higher Wohngeld amount earlier if the rent has increased significantly, income has fallen, or the household composition has changed.

Common mistakes

• Relying on someone else’s income table without taking your city, household composition, and deductions into account.
• Assuming that high rent will always be counted in full.
• Not applying because an online calculator showed a low amount.
• Listing only wages and forgetting pensions, alimony, Krankengeld, or capital income.
• As a student, not getting a written BAföG/BAB decision.
• Leaving the renewal until the last month.

Short conclusion

Wohngeld in Germany is not a fixed benefit but an individual calculation under the Wohngeldgesetz. In 2026 the key rule remains the same: if a household has its own income but objectively has too little money left after paying for housing, it is worth checking eligibility with the official calculator and submitting an application to the local Wohngeldstelle.