Applying for housing benefit for the first time
Housing benefit is granted only on application by the competent authority.
Process flow
As a rule, the housing allowance is granted for 12 months.
The approval period is shortened accordingly if it is to be expected that the circumstances relevant for the payment of housing benefit will change before the expiry of 12 months.
An application for further benefits is possible at the earliest two months before the end of the approval period. The approval period can be found in the current decision.
Who should I contact?
Responsibility lies with the district, municipality, joint municipality or city in which the applicant is resident.
Requirements
- You are a tenant
- Housing allowance as rent subsidy
- You are the owner of owner-occupied residential property (owner-occupied home, condominium)
- Provision of housing benefit as a burden subsidy
Which documents are required?
- completed application form
- Proof of income
- Proof of rent or debit
What are the fees?
There are no fees.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
In the event of a positive decision, payment is made from the 1st of the month in which the application was submitted.
What else should I know?
Recipients of benefits under Book II of the Social Code (SGB II) and Book XII of the Social Code (SGB XII) are excluded from the payment of housing benefit if accommodation costs are already included in their calculation.
Detailed information is available from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction.
Social Code – Second Book (SGB II)
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Equality
