Germany Clarifies 2026 Wohngeld Rules as Asset Thresholds Stay Unchanged

Overview

• Households have a legal entitlement to Wohngeld when statutory conditions are met, with eligibility calculated individually for tenants and owner-occupiers based on household size, total income and eligible housing costs.
• The asset guideline figures used in practice remain at €60,000 for the first household member and €30,000 for each additional member in 2026, with local offices assessing what counts as substantial assets and certain locked retirement savings excluded.
• Applicants must show a minimum income that covers standard needs plus rent, with allowable deductions such as tax and social contributions, work-expense allowances and disability-related exemptions influencing the calculation.
• Residents of shared flats are typically treated as single-person households for Wohngeld purposes, while students with a BAföG entitlement are generally not eligible.
• Families can receive Wohngeld and the child supplement at the same time, but they must apply to separate authorities and the payments are disbursed separately on different schedules.