No Wohngeld Increase in 2026 Under Germany’s Biennial Adjustment Rule

Overview

• Germany’s housing subsidy is recalculated every two years under the Wohngeldgesetz, with the next scheduled update due in January 2027.
• Eligibility and benefit levels hinge on household size, combined income, and subsidizable rent or owner costs, with renters and qualifying owner-occupiers covered.
• Average monthly entitlement stands at €287 nationwide, with notable regional variation from €334 in Hesse to €213 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
• The Wohngeld-Plus reform includes a heating-cost component and has significantly raised typical awards since 2023.
• Applications are filed with municipal Wohngeld offices, awards usually run for 12 months, recipients of housing-inclusive benefits are generally excluded, and payments are made monthly in advance.