Overview
- The Verwaltungsgericht Mainz found a 50-year-old who had been enrolled for 26 years ineligible for Wohngeld, concluding he was not pursuing his studies seriously and purposefully and noting he was employable.
- There is no statutory semester cap for student eligibility, with courts assessing credibility of study progress to guard against misuse.
- For students, BAföG must be applied for first and those essentially eligible for BAföG are excluded from Wohngeld, including cases where parental income is too high.
- Wohngeld calculations include the standardized heating-cost allowance introduced under Wohngeld‑Plus and a climate component rather than actual heating bills, with 2025 parameter updates influencing awards.
- Wohngeld and Kinderzuschlag can be received at the same time but require separate applications and are paid by different authorities; payments go to tenants in advance, may be directed to landlords only with consent or in limited exceptions, and can be reclaimed if granted unlawfully.