Apply for continued housing benefit

Your local housing benefit authority

Your income situation has not improved significantly since the initial application.

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

Depending on your situation, you may need to submit proof of your housing costs or the burden. This may include, for example

• Proof of transfer payments, for example:
  • Assistance with living expenses
  • social benefit
  • Basic income support in old age
  • Basic income support for reduced earning capacity
  • Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
• certificate of earnings
• increased income-related expenses, which you can prove with the tax assessment notice
• current notifications, for example about
  • pension payments
  • Unemployment benefit I
  • short-time allowance
  • transitional allowance
• Proof of sickness benefit or other wage replacement benefits,
• for self-employed persons: last tax assessment

You should state the income of all household members The housing benefit office will then check which of the income can be taken into account. You may need to attach further evidence, for example

• Certificate of enrollment from students
• BAföG notification
• Declaration of monthly allowances from parents during your studies
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of pension or life insurance
• Attachment to the application for housing benefit for expenses to fulfill statutory maintenance obligations
• Certificate of severe disability and, if applicable, proof of care allowance payments
• Proof of residence status and duration of residence for foreign nationals from third countries
• EU residence permit and registration with the registration authorities for EU citizens

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

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

To apply for a rent subsidy, you will also need the following documents:

• Proof of ownership
• extract from the land register
• Purchase contract
• Form for determining the debt service charge
• Proof of the burden from the construction financing, for example
  • borrowed funds certificate
  • last proof of payment
  • Interest and amortization schedule, if applicable
• Proof of the amount of the purchase price or the construction or modernization costs
• Property tax assessment notice or proof of the amount of ground rent
• Proof of rental income, if applicable
• Calculation of living space
• If applicable, notification of the building subsidy

There are no costs.

• It is best to contact the relevant office in advance to find out what documents you need.
• You submit your application for continued benefits in writing using the form provided or with the help of 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 for continued benefits and send you a decision.
• In the event of continued approval, housing benefit is generally granted for a further twelve months and can be granted for up to 24 months if your income remains relatively constant.

To ensure uninterrupted receipt of housing benefit, the application for continued benefit must be submitted at the latest in the month following the expiry of the previous benefit period.

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

Any longer processing times are not at your expense: the entitlement to housing benefit is checked from the day the application is submitted. If you are still entitled to housing benefit, you will not lose any housing benefit.

You are obliged to provide all information truthfully. The housing benefit authority is entitled 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.

• Housing benefit - Information from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB)

• § Section 26 of the First Book of the German Social Code (SGB I)
• § Section 1 Housing Benefit Act (WoGG)
• § Section 25 (1) of the Housing Benefit Act (WoGG)
• Housing Benefit Ordinance (WoGV)
• Housing benefit administrative regulation (WoGVwV)

Complaint

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