Overview
- Germany’s housing ministry confirms no Wohngeld increase or change to practical asset benchmarks in 2026, with the next scheduled recalculation in January 2027 under the two‑year cycle.
- Eligibility continues to hinge on household size, rent or owner burden, and total household income, with municipal Wohngeld offices exercising discretion and a required minimum ability to cover part of housing costs.
- Asset practice remains guided by indicative thresholds of €60,000 for a single person plus €30,000 per additional household member, with exemptions for contractually locked retirement savings (up to €1,500 per completed year of age, max €90,000) and a €1,800 disability or care allowance per qualifying person.
- Wohngeld generally cannot be combined with benefits that already include housing costs (SGB II/SGB XII, certain training grants), while child benefit, child supplement, education package support and care allowance are not counted as income and may be received alongside the subsidy.
- Retirement timing remains consequential: a late pension application can lead to lasting tax and health‑insurance disadvantages despite retroactive payments, while the pension fund confirms that contributions made during early retirement are credited and trigger automatic recalculation at regular pension age, with post‑age contributions added each July plus a 0.5% monthly deferral bonus.