Social housing eligibility certificate

You can apply for a WBS in the city or municipality in which you are looking for a subsidized apartment, live permanently or want to live. You can also obtain the necessary forms there. Which authority is responsible for you depends on the regulations of the respective federal state. You can search for your responsible authority on the application page. You can often also find the application on the website of your city or municipality. The application can be submitted in writing or electronically

Whether you receive a WBS depends on the combined gross annual income of all persons who are to live in the apartment.

Important: Federal states have set different income limits. It is therefore important that you ask your local authority about the income limit that applies to you when applying for a WBS.

WBS for income groups A and B - what is the difference?

In addition to the WBS with fixed income limits, some federal states also have a WBS where these income limits may be exceeded. There is also a fixed upper income limit for exceeding these limits. There are two different income groups: Group A and Group B.

• WBS for income group A - This WBS is based on fixed income limits.
• WBS for income group B - If your income is above the limit for obtaining a WBS for income group A for your place of residence, you may be eligible for a WBS for income group B in your municipality.

The WBS for income group B is only issued for certain subsidized apartments. These can be obtained from the landlords of the subsidized apartments. With the WBS for income group B, the basic rent is still well below the free market prices, but slightly above the limit of the WBS for income group A.

As a rule, the calculation is based on the gross annual income of all persons living in the household for the previous calendar year.

This includes, among other things:

• Salary
• Unemployment benefit
• Maintenance or advance maintenance payments
• Pension or pension
• Mini-job
• Income
• . Maintenance advance
• Pension or pension
• Mini-job income

Not to be taken into account:

• Child benefit
• Housing benefit
• Health insurance benefits
• Care insurance benefits
• Care insurance benefits
• . long-term care insurance
• benefits from statutory accident insurance

If applicable, any sickness benefit received must also be stated, to provide evidence of non-income periods.

The WBS is not only based on income, but also on the size of the household. The more people want to live in a subsidized apartment and the more rooms are required, the larger the apartment can be.

• Your WBS is usually valid for one year from the day it was issued. If you rent a subsidized apartment during this time, the entitlement is valid for as long as the tenancy exists.
• If you do not find a subsidized apartment within one year, you can apply for a new WBS. The old WBS loses its validity and can no longer be used to rent a subsidized apartment.
• Your WBS can be used to move into an apartment within the period of validity. If you wish to move into a subsidized apartment again, you must apply for a new WBS.

• A WBS is only valid for the federal state in which it is issued.
• A so-called "targeted housing eligibility certificate" is only valid for a specific subsidized apartment.
• Some subsidized apartments are reserved for students, people aged 60 and over, people with disabilities or large households (at least three children). If this can be proven to apply to you and you have enclosed the relevant evidence with your application, it will also be stated on the WBS.

Yes, that is possible. The WBS and Housing benefit are two independent benefits. If you are already receiving Housing benefit, it is even very likely that your income is so low that you are entitled to a WBS. You can find out more about the topic of Housing benefit here.

If your household income improves, you do not have to move out. There are regulations in some federal states regarding a possible compensation payment.

No. You are responsible for finding a suitable apartment and applying as a tenant. The landlord or landlady decides whether to conclude a tenancy agreement with you.

Subsidized apartments for which a WBS is required can be found on municipal and national portals or in the advertising pages of local newspapers. They usually have the addition "WBS required" or simply "WBS". Some local authorities also offer support in finding accommodation or arrange WBS apartments themselves. Please enquire about this at your local authority.