Housing benefit

If you have a low income and need help covering your housing costs, you can apply for Housing benefit.

You can apply for the benefit online here.

Digital Application Assistant

Step 1

Digital Application Assistant: Find the relevant authority & submit an application

Use our wizard to find the right authority in just a few steps and submit your application straight away.

Please start by entering your place of residence so that we can show you the relevant information, application forms, your relevant authority and the applicable data protection regulations. We will then ask you four short questions to help us find the right authority for you.

In which town or parish do you live?

Digital Application Assistant: Find the relevant authority & submit an application

Based on your answers, we can show you the relevant authority for your application and you can submit it straight away.

To find the right department, we need a little more information.

Note on the application

Please note that you can currently only apply for Housing benefit via selected partner portals. If you enter a town or zip code, we will determine the responsible office and the corresponding partner portal. You will then receive a link to it. On the partner portal, you will find further information on how to submit your application digitally. A direct application via the social platform is currently not possible.

The online application - simply explained

Enter your zip code. Based on your location, we will check whether an online application is possible.

Fill out the online application. You can complete the online form from the comfort of your own home. Evidence can simply be photographed and uploaded.

Send the application digitally. Check beforehand that you have provided all the necessary information and evidence correctly.

Wait for the processing time. If there are any queries or new information about your application, the responsible office will contact you.

Short and sweet

You can receive Housing benefit as a tenant ("rent subsidy") or as the owner ("encumbrance subsidy") of housing that you live in yourself.

You must submit the application to the housing benefit authority in your municipality/city or district.

Do I have a claim?

Whether and how much Housing benefit you can claim depends on the following factors:

  1. How high is your total income?
  2. How high is your rent or your monthly mortgage if you own your own home?
  3. How many members live in your household and what is their income?

Required documents

To apply for Housing benefit, you need in particular:

  • Housing benefit application,
  • Proof of housing costs (e.g. rental agreement),
  • Proof of income (e.g. payslip, pension statement).

Depending on your living situation, further proof may be required.

Deadlines

Submit your application for Housing benefit as soon as you need this help from the state. Housing benefit is only available from the month in which you submit your application.

That's how long it takes

The processing time can vary, but you will usually receive Housing benefit within three months of submitting your application.

The decisive factor for the speedy processing of your application is that you submit all the required documents.

These costs arise

The application for Housing benefit is free of charge for you.