Information on housing benefit (Wohngeld)
General information
Applications for housing benefit are always made for a household and not for an individual
person. Housing benefit is a rent subsidy for accommodation occupied by the applicant.
Eligibility criteria for students to receive housing benefit:
1. You may be able to claim housing benefit if you are not eligible for BAföG, e.g. if
you are taking a second degree, part-time studies, change subject, exceed the
maximum funding period or fail to achieve the required credits after the fourth
semester or during a vacation semester.
2. It is possible to receive housing benefit if you only receive BAföG as a bank loan, e.g.
BAföG as a graduation loan
3. Students who receive BAföG and are therefore not eligible to claim housing benefit on
their own may nevertheless live in a joint household that as a whole is eligible for housing
benefit.
A person is a member of a household if the accommodation for which they are applying for
housing benefit is the centre of their personal relationships and permanently jointly occupied.
That includes spouses, life partners, first-degree to third-degree relatives, foster children and
foster parents.
Shared accommodation
Since 01.01.2009 it has been possible for each member of a shared apartment/house
to make their own application for housing benefit. This applies to the main tenant as
well as to the subtenants. It is no longer necessary to provide evidence that they have
separate household budgets.
Social and Psychological Counselling Service 01/2017
Calculating housing benefit
Housing benefit is calculated based on monthly income, the number of household members
and rent excluding utilities. Basically, the lower the income, the higher the amount of housing
benefit.
Housing benefit may only be claimed if, in addition to the other criteria being met, the
accommodation costs are appropriate and the maximum amount of rent is observed (see
Table, Section 12 of the German Housing Allowance Act, WoGG).
A household only receives housing benefit if all the included household members together do
not exceed a certain income limit. In most cities in the Ruhr region, this limit is currently
between 800 and 820 € for a one-person household and between 1100 and 1120 € for a twoperson household, depending on the reference rent.
Because housing benefit is only a subsidy to the cost of accommodation, applicants must have
a minimum income equal to the standard rate of social benefit (currently 409 €) + rent and
utilities. If you have 80 % of this amount, you are also classed as having the minimum income.
You may also apply for housing benefit if you are living in a student residence.
Income includes
 your own taxable positive earnings (gross wage)

earnings from self-employment

allowances for orphans, also maintenance/support payments

any child benefit you receive from your parents
Not included in the case of student parents are
 child benefit for your own child and

child-raising allowance
Deductions from the total income are
 tax-free amounts for children

work-related costs

deductions for health, care and pension insurance and taxes up to 30 %

tax-free amounts for severely disabled people.
Social and Psychological Counselling Service 01/2017
Applications
Claims are dealt with by the Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldstelle) of the District Authority
(Bezirksamt) responsible for you. Housing benefit is awarded from the date of application. You
should therefore make your application as early as possible. You will need to present the
following documents:

registration certificate

certificate of enrolment

rental agreement

student identity card and passport

approval/rejection letter from the BAföG office and, where applicable,

confirmation from your parents of financial support (formless)

proof of earnings certificate from your employer (retroactively, including the previous
year).
Social and Psychological Counselling Service
Location:
Campus Essen: Reckhammerweg 1, 45141 Essen
Consultation hour
Tues 01:00pm - 03:30pm
Thurs 11:00am - 01:00 pm
and by appointment
Campus Duisburg: Mülheimer Straße 202, 47057 Duisburg
by appointment
Contact:
[email protected]
Tel.: 0201 / 8 20 10 72
[email protected]
Tel.: 0201 / 8 20 10 811
[email protected]
Tel.: 0201 / 8 20 10 815
[email protected]
Tel.: 0201 / 8 20 10 814
All information has been carefully researched. The Studierendenwerk can nevertheless assume no liability for its accuracy.
Social and Psychological Counselling Service 01/2017