Germany’s 2025 Housing Benefit Rules: Who Qualifies Now

Overview

• Eligibility is determined by three factors set by the housing ministry: household size, the eligible rent or owner burden, and total household income.
• The Wohngeld‑Plus reform and the Jan. 1, 2025 dynamization raised thresholds to reflect higher prices and rents, allowing some households with slightly higher incomes to qualify.
• Both tenants and owner‑occupiers can apply; tenants receive a rent supplement, while owner‑occupiers can get a burden supplement that covers interest, repayment and certain housing costs under the regulation.
• Applicants must meet variable income limits and show a minimum ability to cover living costs, assets are capped at €60,000 for the first household member plus €30,000 for each additional member, and long pension contribution histories can trigger a deduction that increases entitlement.
• Applications are filed with local Wohngeld offices, often online, typically for 12 months with automatic increase checks for current recipients, and about 1.2 million households receive the benefit, including many families and pensioner households.