No Fixed Square‑Metre Limit for Wohngeld as 2026 Rules Confirmed

Overview

• Reporting in June 2026 clarifies that Wohngeld entitlement does not hinge on a fixed apartment size; officials assess three factors: number of household members, total income, and the portion of rent or owner costs that the law counts.
• For single‑person households the 2026 eligible monthly housing‑cost caps range from €490.60 to €806.60 depending on the municipal Mietstufe, and those amounts include the basic grant plus heating and CO₂/climate top‑ups.
• The established Vermögensrichtwerte remain unchanged for 2026, with guidance treating more than €60,000 for a single person (and €30,000 per additional person) as potentially ‘significant’ assets subject to discretion by local Wohngeld offices.
• Non‑German residents may qualify if they have an appropriate residence status under laws such as the Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU or the Aufenthaltsgesetz, and applicants must supply income, tenancy or ownership papers and a registration certificate.
• About 1.2 million households currently receive Wohngeld, mostly families and pensioners, and local rent levels mean identical flats can produce different entitlements so applicants should check their municipality's Mietstufe and use the federal calculator before applying.