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Applying for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld): Where and how do I apply?

You apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) at the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde) of your city, municipal, local, or district administration – usually at the town hall, citizens' office, or district office where you live. The application is submitted in writing on the office's form; many municipalities now also offer it online. Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is only paid if you apply for it, and usually from the month in which the application is received – on average around 370 euros per month (as of 2026). So apply as early as possible.

Last updated: 25.07.2026 · HalloAmt editorial team · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

The Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) application has several sections – on rent, income, and household – and that's often where people get stuck. HalloAmt goes through the questions with you in your language, sorts out the right documents, and creates the finished PDF for you to print and hand in. Start now →

Where exactly do I apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)?

The office responsible is always the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde) where you live. This is not a nationwide central office, but a department of your local authority – depending on the region, this could be the city administration, the municipality, the local office, or the district administration. In larger cities it's often located in the citizens' office or in a dedicated "housing office"; in rural areas usually in the district office.

Here's how to find the Housing Benefit Office "near you": search online for "Wohngeld" plus the name of your city or district, or ask at the town hall. What matters is the office at your place of residence, not your workplace.

Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is a social benefit that, under the Housing Benefit Act (Wohngeldgesetz), is granted only upon application. Without an application, nobody pays it automatically – even if you meet all the requirements. The application form is available at the office, as a PDF on your municipality's website, or in many places can be filled out directly online.

How does the Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) application work step by step?

  1. Check your eligibility roughly. Use the free Housing Benefit calculator (Wohngeldrechner) from the Federal Ministry (BMWSB) to get a first idea of whether applying is worthwhile.
  2. Get the form. Pick up the application form at the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde), at the town hall, or on your municipality's website – or start your city's online form.
  3. Gather the documents. Rental contract, current rent certificate (from the landlord), proof of income for all household members, ID card or residence permit, bank account statements.
  4. Fill out and sign the application. Details about household, income, and gross cold rent (Bruttokaltmiete) must be complete.
  5. Submit it. In person, by mail, or online at your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde).
  6. Wait for the decision. The office reviews it and sends a written decision (Bescheid). If documents are missing, they will request them.

Tip: Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is usually paid from the first day of the month in which the application is received – not retroactively for earlier months. If you're still missing documents, submit the application anyway (informally in writing if necessary, with the sentence "I am applying for Wohngeld") and provide the rest later. This secures the earlier date for you.

What documents do I need?

The exact list is on the information sheet from your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde). Almost always these include:

  • Application form, fully completed and signed
  • Rental contract and rent certificate (the landlord confirms rent and living space)
  • Proof of income for all household members (pay slips, pension notice, parental benefit (Elterngeld), maintenance payments, etc.)
  • ID card or residence permit
  • Bank account statements and, if applicable, proof of assets
  • if unemployed: proof of other benefits received

Single parents also need to submit proof of maintenance payments and Child Benefit (Kindergeld). All people who live and manage the household together with you on a permanent basis count as part of the household – this often increases the amount you're entitled to.

How much Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) will I get – and who is eligible?

The amount is calculated individually based on household size, total income, rent amount, and the rent level (Mietstufe) of your place of residence. On average, since the "Wohngeld-Plus" reform, Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is around 370 euros per month per household. As of January 1, 2025, it was last raised by an average of around 15 percent, or about 30 euros; these amounts still apply in 2026. The next scheduled adjustment is legally set for January 1, 2027 (a draft law could still change this – as of July 2026, nothing has been decided).

Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is aimed at households with low income who cannot fully cover their rent on their own, but who don't qualify for basic income support. Anyone who receives Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld), basic income support in old age, or other benefits that already include housing costs does not get additional Housing Benefit (Wohngeld). For tenants there is the rent subsidy (Mietzuschuss), and for owners of self-occupied housing there is the cost subsidy (Lastenzuschuss).

I'm a single parent – how do I apply?

The process is the same: apply at the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde) of your local authority. You and your children count together as one household, which raises the income limit and often improves your eligibility. State Child Benefit (Kindergeld), maintenance payments, and – if applicable – advance maintenance payments (Unterhaltsvorschuss) correctly. If your income together with Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is still not enough, also check the Child Supplement (Kinderzuschlag) at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse); Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) and Child Supplement (Kinderzuschlag) can often be combined.

Residence status: Who from abroad can apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)?

People without a German passport can also be entitled to Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) – it depends on your residence status. This is regulated in § 3 of the Housing Benefit Act (Wohngeldgesetz).

EU citizens: If you are an EU citizen living and working in Germany, you are generally entitled to Housing Benefit (Wohngeld). You apply exactly like everyone else, at the local Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde). Bring your ID card or passport, your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), and your proof of income. If your German is not yet confident, bring a trusted person for advice or get help filling out the form – what matters is that the details are correct, not the grammar.

Refugees from Ukraine (residence permit under § 24): What matters is which benefit you receive. Anyone who receives Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld) from the Jobcenter does not get Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) – housing costs are already included in Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld). Only those who work and do not receive Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld), but are still short on money, can apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) at the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde). In that case, submit your residence permit, employment contract, and proof of income.

Other residence permits: People with a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or a residence permit for work, family, or humanitarian reasons are generally entitled to Housing Benefit (Wohngeld), provided they actually live in Germany. Generally no Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is given, however, for certain temporary permits – for example:

  • for seeking vocational training or a job
  • for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
  • for a study-related internship
  • for the European Voluntary Service

If in doubt, ask your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde) whether your specific permit counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)?

At the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde) of your city, municipal, local, or district administration – often at the town hall, citizens' office, or district office. The office responsible is the one where you live. Many municipalities now also offer the application online.

How much Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) will I get?

On average around 370 euros per month per household (as of 2026). The exact amount depends on household size, income, rent amount, and the rent level (Mietstufe) of your place of residence. A first indication is provided by the Housing Benefit calculator (Wohngeldrechner) from the BMWSB.

What documents do I need for the Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) application?

A completed application form, rental contract and current rent certificate, proof of income for all household members, ID card or residence permit, and bank account statements. The exact list is on the information sheet from your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde).

Will I get Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) retroactively?

Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is usually paid from the first day of the month in which the application is received – not for earlier months. That's why you should apply early, informally if necessary, and submit documents later.

Do refugees from Ukraine get Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)?

Anyone with a residence permit under § 24 who receives Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld) does not get Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) – rent is already included there. Anyone who works instead and does not receive Citizen's Benefit (Bürgergeld) can apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld).

Can EU citizens apply for Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)?

Yes. EU citizens who live and work in Germany are generally entitled to Housing Benefit (Wohngeld). They apply the same way as everyone else, at the local Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde).

Fill out the Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) application now

HalloAmt guides you through all the questions on the Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) application in your language, helps with rent and income details, and produces the finished PDF for your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde). Fill out the Housing Benefit application with HalloAmt →

This page provides general, carefully researched information (as of 25.07.2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Amounts and deadlines may change; your entitlement to Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is decided case by case by the responsible Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde). For binding information, contact your Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldbehörde), a migration counseling service, or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or accuracy.

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