Frequently Asked Questions About Wohngeld in Berlin

Wohngeld is a government subsidy for housing costs. It is paid as a rent subsidy for tenants or as a burden subsidy for homeowners. Wohngeld is intended to ensure that low-income households can afford adequate housing without being excessively burdened. Unlike other social benefits, Wohngeld does not need to be repaid.

Wohngeld can be received by tenants and owner-occupiers of self-used housing whose income does not exceed the statutory income limits. The prerequisite is that you use the housing yourself and bear the rent or burden yourself. Recipients of transfer benefits that already cover housing costs are not eligible — this includes in particular Bürgergeld recipients and those receiving basic income support for the elderly or for reduced earning capacity.

Since the Wohngeld-Plus reform, Mietstufe IV applies uniformly throughout Berlin. This leads to a higher Wohngeld entitlement compared to more affordable regions.

No, Wohngeld is a subsidy and generally does not need to be repaid. Unlike a loan or credit, you receive Wohngeld as a non-repayable government benefit. Repayment is only considered if Wohngeld was paid unjustly, for example due to false information in the application.

No, Wohngeld and Bürgergeld are two completely different benefits. Wohngeld is a pure housing cost subsidy for households with low but independent income. Bürgergeld, on the other hand, is the basic income support for job seekers intended to cover the entire cost of living. Bürgergeld recipients are not entitled to Wohngeld because their housing costs are already included in Bürgergeld. Conversely: those who receive Wohngeld cannot simultaneously receive Bürgergeld.

A Wohngeld application is particularly worthwhile for households with their own income that is just above the basic income support threshold. This includes, for example, low-wage earners, families with one income, pensioners with a small pension, and students without a BAföG entitlement. Thanks to the Wohngeld-Plus reform, the circle of eligible recipients has been significantly expanded, so it may also be worthwhile for middle-income households to apply.

You submit the Wohngeld application in writing to the Wohngeld authority responsible for your place of residence in Berlin. In Berlin, the Wohngeld offices are located in the district administrations. You can submit the application in person, by mail, or — in some districts — also online. The application must be submitted together with the required documents. Detailed information on the process can be found on our application page.

You need a number of documents for the Wohngeld application. These include: the completed and signed application form, a valid identity card or passport, the tenancy agreement, proof of income for all household members (pay slips, pension notice, BAföG notice), proof of other income, the latest bank statement, and proof of rent payments. A complete list can be found on our required documents page.

In Berlin, several districts offer the option of submitting the Wohngeld application online. The availability of the online application varies by district. In addition, the state of Berlin offers a digital Wohngeld calculator that you can use to check in advance whether you are eligible. Find out about the options in your district on our online application page.

Wohngeld is paid from the first day of the month in which the application is received by the responsible authority. It is therefore advisable to submit the application as early in the month as possible. Retroactive payment is not possible. Wohngeld is generally transferred monthly in advance to the account you specify.

In Berlin, the responsible office depends on your residential district. Each of the 12 Berlin districts has its own Wohngeld office. The determining factor is the district in which you are registered with your primary residence. You can find the addresses and contact details of all Berlin Wohngeld offices on our overview page for responsible offices.

You must immediately report changes in income, household size, or housing costs to the Wohngeld authority. An income increase of more than 15 percent leads to a recalculation and possibly a reduction in Wohngeld. Conversely, if your income decreases, Wohngeld may be increased. If you fail to report changes, you risk having overpaid Wohngeld reclaimed.

In a shared flat, it depends on the exact circumstances. If you live with other people in an apartment and have your own rental contract for your room, you may be able to apply for Wohngeld under certain conditions. The key factor is whether it is a household community or a purely functional shared arrangement. In a household community — if you share household finances — the total income of all members is taken into account. If you live in a purely functional WG with separate finances, an individual entitlement may exist.

The basic requirements for Wohngeld are: you occupy the housing yourself, you bear the rent or burden yourself, your income is below the applicable income limit, and you do not receive other social benefits that already cover housing costs (such as Bürgergeld or basic income support). In addition, the housing must be used as permanent accommodation. Detailed information can be found on our eligibility requirements page.

The income limits depend on the number of household members, the Mietstufe of your place of residence and the amount of your rent. In Berlin, Mietstufe IV applies uniformly. For example, a one-person household in Mietstufe IV has a flat-rate maximum income of approximately €1,600 per month. For a four-person household, the limit can be around €3,800. Exact values can be found on our income limits page.

Students can receive Wohngeld under certain conditions. In principle, students who are fundamentally entitled to BAföG are excluded from Wohngeld — even if they do not actually receive BAföG. However, a Wohngeld entitlement exists if the BAföG entitlement is exhausted (for example, if the maximum funding period has been exceeded), if you have a BAföG notice of €0, or if you are excluded from BAföG for other reasons. Students in part-time or work-study programs may also be eligible for Wohngeld.

Yes, pensioners can receive Wohngeld provided their pension and other income fall below the applicable income limit. Many pensioners with a small pension are entitled to Wohngeld but are not aware of it. Important: recipients of basic income support for the elderly do not receive Wohngeld, as housing costs are already covered. Thanks to the Wohngeld-Plus reform, pensioners with an income just above the basic income support threshold benefit especially. Further information can be found on our special cases page.

Berlin has been uniformly assigned to Mietstufe IV since 1 January 2023. This Mietstufe applies to all twelve districts and has a positive effect on the amount of Wohngeld. An overview can be found on our Mietstufen page.

Yes, self-employed persons can also apply for Wohngeld. For self-employed persons, income is calculated based on the most recent income tax assessment. If no tax assessment is yet available — for example, for new business founders — income can be estimated.

However, the income of self-employed persons is subject to special scrutiny. Profit fluctuations are taken into account through an average view over several years. In addition, self-employed persons must prove their income with suitable documents such as business evaluations and income-surplus statements.

The amount of Wohngeld depends on three factors: the number of household members, the total household income, and the amount of eligible rent or burden. In Berlin, households can receive between €10 and over €500 per month depending on their circumstances. For exact values, please refer to the current Wohngeld table.

Wohngeld is calculated according to the Wohngeld formula set out in the WoGG. The formula takes into account the number of household members, total income, and eligible rent. Simply put: the lower the income and the higher the rent (up to the specified maximum limit), the higher the Wohngeld. The exact calculation is complex, as various rounding and capping limits apply. We recommend using a Wohngeld calculator for a reliable estimate. More details can be found on our calculation page.

The Wohngeld-Plus reform has permanently increased Wohngeld since 2025. The most important changes are: an average increase of approximately €190 per month, a permanent heating cost component to compensate for increased energy costs, a climate component for energy-efficient modernization, and an expansion of the eligible group of people through raised income limits. Around 2 million additional households have been able to receive Wohngeld since the reform. Further details can be found on our Wohngeld-Plus reform page.

On our calculation examples page, we have compiled several practical examples for different household constellations. These show you how much Wohngeld you can expect to receive in your situation. The examples cover common cases: single persons, couples, families with children, and pensioner households. They help you obtain a realistic estimate of your possible Wohngeld entitlement.

Yes, through the Wohngeld-Plus reform, a permanent heating cost component was integrated into the Wohngeld calculation. This is intended to compensate for increased energy costs. The heating cost component is calculated on a flat-rate basis according to household size and is taken into account when determining the Wohngeld entitlement. For a one-person household, it amounts to approximately €24 per month; for a four-person household, approximately €56 per month.

Wohngeld is generally approved for a period of 12 months. After the approval period expires, you must submit a new application to continue receiving Wohngeld. The follow-up application should be submitted in good time before the end of the approval period so that payments can continue without interruption. If there are significant changes in circumstances — income, household size, rent — the approval may also be amended early.

After submitting your application, you must immediately report any changes relevant to Wohngeld to the Wohngeld authority. These include: an increase in income of more than 15 percent, a reduction in household size (a member moving out), a change in rent or burden, loss of maintenance claims, and receipt of other social benefits. Failure to report changes may result in the reclaiming of overpaid Wohngeld.

Yes, you can lodge an objection against a rejected Wohngeld decision. The objection period is one month from receipt of the decision. The objection must be submitted in writing to the Wohngeld authority that issued the decision. During the objection procedure, the decision is reviewed again. If the objection is also rejected, you can file a lawsuit with the competent administrative court. It is advisable to seek legal assistance when lodging an objection.

If you submit the follow-up application late, there is no retroactive payment for the period between the end of the old and the beginning of the new approval period. Wohngeld is only paid again from the month of re-application. This means there is a payment gap. To avoid this, you should submit the follow-up application at least one month before the end of the approval period. Some Wohngeld offices send reminder letters before expiry — but do not rely on this.