🏠 Housing and heating costs
In brief
In addition to the standard need, the Jobcenter covers “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung” (KdU, housing and heating costs) at their actual amount – with restrictions. In the first year of your benefit receipt (grace period, Karenzzeit) your actual rent is deemed reasonable, without the Jobcenter checking the size of the home or the price per square metre – but since 1.7.2026 only up to 1.5 times the amount deemed reasonable (§ 22 Abs. 1 Satz 6 SGB II). Only after that does a local reasonableness limit apply, based on your municipality’s “coherent concept” (schlüssiges Konzept).
Step by step
- Submit the tenancy agreementWith your application, submit the complete tenancy agreement showing base rent, service charges and heating costs.
- Use the grace periodIn the first 12 months your actual rent is covered up to 1.5 times the reasonableness limit – you do not need to move during this time in order to save costs.
- Take a request to reduce costs seriouslyAfter the grace period has ended, the Jobcenter can request in writing that you reduce your costs (e.g. by moving or subletting) if your rent is above the local reasonableness limit.
- Report rent arrearsIf you face termination or eviction because of rent arrears, contact the Jobcenter immediately – coverage as a loan is possible if this is justified and necessary to secure the home.
Deadlines
- The grace period for rent (12 months) is something different from the asset test – do not confuse the two: your assets are checked immediately, independently of it, under the new age-graded asset allowance.
- “Reasonable” is not a nationwide figure but depends on your municipality’s “coherent concept” (schlüssiges Konzept) – have the values that apply to your area stated to you specifically, rather than relying on blanket statements from the internet.
- Coverage of rent arrears is a “should” benefit, not an automatic entitlement – it is granted primarily as a loan, and your own assets must be used first.
- After the grace period has ended, where it is unavoidable (e.g. disability, many children), rent above the reasonableness limit can also continue to be covered – this is not an automatic rule but an assessment of the individual case.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Grace period (§ 22 Abs. 1 Satz 3 SGB II)
For a period of twelve months from the start of the first approval period, the actual housing expenses are recognised in full, regardless of their reasonableness – since 1.7.2026, however, only up to 1.5 times the amount deemed reasonable (§ 22 Abs. 1 Satz 6 SGB II). This rule remained unaffected by the 2026 asset reform – the rent grace period and the asset allowance are two separate rules with different requirements and should not be confused. An interruption of benefit receipt of at least one month means that a new grace period starts to run only after three years without benefit receipt.
After the grace period: coherent concept
After the grace period has ended, only reasonable costs are covered. What is reasonable is determined by the municipality concerned on the basis of a “coherent concept” (schlüssiges Konzept; e.g. rent index, housing market analysis). Until the new, lower reasonableness limit is reached, a transition period of six months regularly applies; the 1.5-times reasonableness limit applies under § 22 Abs. 1 Satz 6 SGB II as a statutory upper limit already during the grace period. Where a move is unreasonable (e.g. old age, disability, minor children with a social environment), the actual rent can continue to be covered permanently.
Rent arrears (§ 22 Abs. 8 SGB II)
Debts that are justified to secure the home (impending homelessness) and whose coverage is necessary should be covered – primarily as a loan. Existing own assets must be used first. The Jobcenter is regularly responsible for approval, in some cases in coordination with municipal homelessness-prevention services.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.