Overview
- A Wohngeld decision for a previous dwelling becomes invalid when a household moves, so most recipients must file a new application with the authority at their new address.
- Wohngeld is generally paid only from the month an application is filed, which means processing delays or late reapplying can leave households without support for weeks or months.
- Municipal offices report multi‑month backlogs that slow payments; Augsburg says average processing takes two to three months and it currently has roughly 3,500 open Wohngeld cases.
- The most common avoidable cause of delay is missing or incomplete paperwork, especially a full rental contract and bank statements proving rent payments, so applicants should supply clear copies of contracts and income proofs up front.
- If an authority fails to decide within six months, applicants may bring an Untätigkeitsklage (action for failure to act), and advisers recommend asking the office about missing documents after four to six weeks before considering legal steps.