Wegweiser Homeless people · Rights & support Deutsch

📉 Debt and homelessness

Rent arrears are the most common cause of imminent loss of housing. Debt counselling is a municipal discretionary or target ("should") service and should be involved as early as possible.

Debt counselling (Schuldnerberatung) § 16a SGB II § 11 SGB XII Rent arrears Personal insolvency

In brief

Debts – especially rent arrears – are often the trigger for homelessness. Debt counselling (Schuldnerberatung) is a municipal service: for recipients of basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld/Bürgergeld) a discretionary service of the Jobcenter (§ 16a Nr. 2 SGB II), for social assistance recipients a target ("should") service (§ 11 Abs. 5 SGB XII). Rent arrears should be dealt with first, because they endanger housing most directly.

Step by step

  1. Contact debt counsellingContact a local debt counselling centre (usually run by welfare associations, often free of charge).
  2. Ask at the JobcenterIf you receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld/Bürgergeld), ask for referral to debt counselling under § 16a Nr. 2 SGB II.
  3. Ask at the SozialamtIf you receive social assistance, assert the entitlement under § 11 Abs. 5 SGB XII.
  4. Prioritise rent arrearsDeal with existing rent arrears first (see "Avoiding loss of your home"), as they can lead most directly to homelessness.
  5. Consider personal insolvencyIf the overall debt is hopeless, consider personal insolvency together with the debt counselling centre.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes
  • Debt counselling under § 16a SGB II is a discretionary service, not an automatic entitlement to a particular counselling – but the Jobcenter must examine the matter if debts endanger integration into working life.
  • Rent arrears should be resolved before all other debts, because they endanger your home most directly – discuss this priority with the debt counselling centre.
  • Free debt counselling centres are often at capacity – the earlier you get in touch, the sooner you will get an appointment.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal bases of debt counselling

§ 16a Nr. 2 SGB II counts debt counselling among the municipal integration services that the Jobcenter can provide if debts make integration into work more difficult. § 11 Abs. 5 SGB XII provides a comparable target ("should") service for social assistance recipients. In both cases, this is not a strict individual entitlement to a particular counselling centre, but a discretionary or standard service.

Link to rent arrears

In professional terms, rent arrears are the most common immediate cause of losing a home. The takeover of rent arrears under § 22 Abs. 8 SGB II or § 36 SGB XII (see "Avoiding loss of your home") should therefore be dealt with first in debt counselling and coordinated with other liabilities.

Who is responsible
  • Jobcenter/Sozialamt (referral)
  • Debt counselling centres (mostly welfare associations)
Further reading
Avoiding loss of your home: rent arrears and evictionAdvice and points of contact

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Debt and homelessness“?
Rent arrears are the most common cause of imminent loss of housing. Debt counselling is a municipal discretionary or target ("should") service and should be involved as early as possible.
What should I do first?
  • Contact debt counselling: Contact a local debt counselling centre (usually run by welfare associations, often free of charge).
  • Ask at the Jobcenter: If you receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld/Bürgergeld), ask for referral to debt counselling under § 16a Nr. 2 SGB II.
  • Ask at the Sozialamt: If you receive social assistance, assert the entitlement under § 11 Abs. 5 SGB XII.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Debt counselling under § 16a SGB II is a discretionary service, not an automatic entitlement to a particular counselling – but the Jobcenter must examine the matter if debts endanger integration into working life.
  • Rent arrears should be resolved before all other debts, because they endanger your home most directly – discuss this priority with the debt counselling centre.
  • Free debt counselling centres are often at capacity – the earlier you get in touch, the sooner you will get an appointment.
Evidence
  • § 16a SGB II (gesetze-im-internet.de)
  • § 11 SGB XII (gesetze-im-internet.de)
As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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.