Wegweiser Pensioners · Pension, tax, basic income support and housing benefit explained Deutsch

🏠 Housing benefit for pensioners

Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is a subsidy towards rent or housing costs. Cuts are planned for 2027, not yet adopted.

housing benefit Wohngeld Plus housing benefit office rent subsidy housing benefit reform 2027 heating cost component pension rent

In brief

Housing benefit helps with housing costs if your income is low but you do not receive basic income support. You apply for it at the housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde) of your municipality, city or district administration.

In 2026 housing benefit was not increased. It is adjusted every two years, next on 1 January 2027.

Planned, but not yet adopted: On 6 July 2026 the cabinet adopted a draft bill. It provides for suspending the adjustment on 1 January 2027, halving the heating cost component and changing the formula. Some households would lose their entitlement. The law has not yet been passed.

Step by step

  1. Check whether basic income support or housing benefit fitsAs a rule you cannot get both (rule not checked against the full text). Ask the office.
  2. Find the housing benefit officeThe municipal, city or district administration is responsible. It is often located in the Sozialamt.
  3. Apply and bring your documentsRental contract, pension notice, bank statements.
  4. Report changesPension increase, move, change in rent.

Deadlines

1 January 2027
planned start of the housing benefit reform (draft, not adopted)Bundesregierung, Im Kabinett: Wohngeld wird neu geordnet
6 July 2026
cabinet decision on the draft billBundesregierung
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Figures for the number of affected households (for example 163,000 or 400,000) vary by source and were not checked. They are therefore not stated here as fact.
  • Bundesrat on 25 September 2026: first round (opinion) on BR-Drs. 474/26. According to BR-Drs. 474/1/26 (11 September 2026), the committees recommend rejecting the whole draft. The draft also provides for: no entitlement if the calculated monthly amount is under 15 euros. Deliberations in the Bundestag follow.
  • Whether you get housing benefit or basic income support is decided by the authorities. According to secondary sources, receiving basic income support excludes housing benefit (§ 7 WoGG not checked against the full text).
  • Amount of housing benefit and income limits: ask the housing benefit office or use the federal housing benefit calculator. Amounts are not given here.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Current law

According to reports, housing benefit was not increased in 2026; under the law the adjustment takes place every two years, next on 1 January 2027 (secondary source, Wohngeldgesetz not checked against the full text).

Draft bill on simplifying and developing the Housing Benefit Act

According to the federal government (cabinet 6 July 2026): suspension of the adjustment, halving of the heating cost component, change of the calculation formula, administrative simplification; entry into force planned for 1 January 2027; the draft is in the legislative process and does not apply as long as it is not in force. On 12 June 2026 the Bundestag debated two opposition motions on housing benefit and referred them to the committee (Bundestag).

Not checked against the full text

Eligibility requirements (WoGG), table values, exclusion in case of transfer benefits, application deadlines, approval period.

Who is responsible
  • Housing benefit office (municipality, city, district administration)
  • Sozialamt (social welfare office)
Further reading
Basic income support in old age (SGB XII) and basic pension supplementPension adjustment 2026 and state of reformAdvice and contact points for pensioners

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Housing benefit for pensioners“?
Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is a subsidy towards rent or housing costs. Cuts are planned for 2027, not yet adopted.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 1 January 2027: planned start of the housing benefit reform (draft, not adopted) (Bundesregierung, Im Kabinett: Wohngeld wird neu geordnet)
  • 6 July 2026: cabinet decision on the draft bill (Bundesregierung)
What should I do first?
  • Check whether basic income support or housing benefit fits: As a rule you cannot get both (rule not checked against the full text). Ask the office.
  • Find the housing benefit office: The municipal, city or district administration is responsible. It is often located in the Sozialamt.
  • Apply and bring your documents: Rental contract, pension notice, bank statements.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Figures for the number of affected households (for example 163,000 or 400,000) vary by source and were not checked. They are therefore not stated here as fact.
  • Bundesrat on 25 September 2026: first round (opinion) on BR-Drs. 474/26. According to BR-Drs. 474/1/26 (11 September 2026), the committees recommend rejecting the whole draft. The draft also provides for: no entitlement if the calculated monthly amount is under 15 euros. Deliberations in the Bundestag follow.
  • Whether you get housing benefit or basic income support is decided by the authorities. According to secondary sources, receiving basic income support excludes housing benefit (§ 7 WoGG not checked against the full text).
Evidence
  • Bundesregierung, Im Kabinett: Wohngeld wird neu geordnet, retrieved 21 September 2026
  • Deutscher Bundestag, Wohngeld (debate of 12 June 2026), retrieved 21 September 2026
  • Search results on Wohngeld 2026 (secondary sources), retrieved 21 September 2026
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.