Wohngeld Reform 2026: What changes for Berlin households
The federal government has passed a comprehensive reform of the Wohngeld Act (WoGG), which comes into force on January 1, 2026. This results in some important changes for Berlin households, which we summarize here.
The income limits will be raised significantly. While a single household in Berlin previously had an upper limit of around €1,200 gross monthly income, this figure will rise to around €1,800. The limits will also be increased accordingly for multi-person households.
At the same time, the eligible rent ceilings will be adjusted to current rental prices in Berlin. Since Berlin is classified in rent levels III and IV, tenants in the capital benefit above average from this adjustment. In prime locations (rent level IV), up to €650 cold rent for a single household can be taken into account in future.
The circle of eligible applicants has also been expanded. In future, households that previously fell just above the limit but need relief due to increased rental costs can also expect Wohngeld.
The federal Wohngeld calculator is also being revised. The calculation will become more transparent and take more individual factors into account.
If you want to check whether you benefit from the reform, use our online check service.
Apply for Wohngeld online now