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  • Applying for housing benefit for the first time or for a new application

Applying for housing benefit for the first time or for a new application

  • Sozialleistungen
  • Bauen und Wohnen 



    	    

		    
Procedure

            			
  • It is best to contact the relevant office in advance to ask for the documents you need.
  • You submit your application in writing using the form provided or by using the online service. You can send the form by mail to the housing allowance office responsible for you or hand it in personally.
  • The authority will examine your application and send you a decision.
  • If the housing allowance is approved, it is usually granted for 12 months.
			
Legal bases
			
More information
There is the following information: 

In order to prevent or detect the unlawful claiming of housing allowance, the housing allowance authority may regularly check the details of all household members by comparing data - also in automated form - in particular with the data office of the pension insurance. 

For example, it is allowed to compare 


  • whether Bürgergeld (formerly Arbeitslosengeld II) is being paid during the period in which the housing allowance is being received,
  • whether employment subject to compulsory insurance or marginal employment exists
  • or the amount of investment income for which an exemption order has been issued.

It is also possible to compare the registration addresses, housing status and dates of change of address with the registration office. It is also possible to call up accounts at the Federal Central Tax Office. Suspected cases of fraud are always reported to the public prosecutor's office. 

Through these checks, the housing allowance authority can determine, for example, 


  • whether housing benefit is being received more than once,
  • whether transfer payments leading to exclusion from housing benefit are being received at the same time,
  • whether the information provided in the housing benefit application is correct
    
 
    • income from gainful employment,
    • income from one or more pensions,
    • income from capital gains (interest or dividends),
  • whether, in the case of original unemployment, the payment of unemployment benefits has been discontinued (for example, due to taking up a new gainful activity), and
  • whether the original dwelling for which housing benefit was paid is still actually being used.

The review is permitted up to the expiry of ten years after notification of the associated housing allowance.