Overview
- The 2026 payouts follow the last bank workday of the prior month, with the February installment due Friday, January 30, 2026.
- The benefit rose by roughly 15% on January 1, 2025, and under the two‑year cycle the next routine adjustment is scheduled for January 2027.
- Eligibility and amount are determined individually by household size, total income, recognized rent or owner costs, and local rent level; there is no single income cutoff.
- Statutory allowances under §17 WoGG can lower countable income, including €1,800 per year for certain disabled members, €1,320 for single parents, and up to €1,200 for working children under 25, plus a pensioner allowance for long insurance histories (§17a).
- Wohngeld is typically granted from the application month; limited back payments are possible after denied prior benefits or qualifying rent hikes (§27), and overpayments can be reclaimed if rules were breached or changes not reported.