No Fixed 60 m² Limit for Two‑Person Wohngeld Claims
Authorities say eligibility and payment rest on household size, income, regional Mietenstufen, not on a fixed square‑metre limit.
Overview
- Reporting on August 29–30, 2026 clarified that the Wohngeldgesetz sets no statutory apartment‑size cap for two‑person households and that local Wohngeldstellen calculate aid from household members, eligible rent or financial burden and total income.
- For 2026 the law caps the housing costs considered in calculation for two people at a combined amount between €604.40 (Mietenstufe I) and €987.40 (Mietenstufe VII), which already include the heating pauschale and the climate component.
- Owners seeking the Lastenzuschuss must declare the dwelling area because §13 WoGV applies a pauschale of €36 per square metre per year that directly affects the admissible burden used in the calculation.
- Incorrect area declarations can lead to administrative correction and repayment of overpaid Wohngeld and, if information was given intentionally or with gross negligence, to fines up to €2,000 under §37 WoGG while inadvertent mistakes are usually treated leniently.
- Income rules matter in practice: capital gains under €100 per person per year are exempt but earnings from minijobs are counted in full, and a proposed 2027 Wohngeld reform that aims to save about €1.5 billion could cut eligibility for many recipients.