Housing Allowance Approval (Again)

You must apply for continued housing allowance benefits at the local housing allowance office with jurisdiction over your area. Once the application has been processed, the housing allowance office will issue a new decision.

Whether you are eligible for housing assistance—and, if so, how much—depends on several factors:
1. What is your total income?
2. How much is your rent, or your monthly housing costs if you own your home?
3. How many people are in your household, and what is their combined income?

1. Total Income: Total
income is the sum of the annual incomes of all household members to be included in the calculation. Certain exemptions and deductions for support payments may be subtracted from this amount. Income is calculated based on taxable income, plus tax-exempt income.

10% shall be deducted from each of these amounts if, during the authorization period,

• Income Taxes
• Contributions to Statutory Health and Long-Term Care Insurance
• Contributions to the Statutory Pension Insurance Program

are made. If all three of the listed payments are made, the deduction amount is 30%.

2. Rent/Monthly Expenses for Homeowners:
Rent is the agreed-upon payment for the use of living space under a lease agreement. Expenses for homeowners include costs related to debt service and property management. The calculation basis for housing assistance is the gross rent excluding utilities. Heating costs and hot water costs are not included in the rent. These are accounted for via a flat rate. Household electricity and fees for the use of a garage or parking space for motor vehicles are also not included. The rent or expenses are eligible for assistance only up to certain maximum amounts. The maximum amounts are based on local rent levels, known as “rent tiers.”

3. Household Members: Household
members are the person eligible for housing assistance and certain other individuals who live in the residence. The residence must be the center of daily life for each of these individuals. Household members who are excluded from housing assistance are not taken into account. You are excluded from housing assistance if you receive transfer payments (other social benefits) that already include housing costs.

For example:

• Basic Income or
• Basic Income Support for the Elderly and Those with Reduced Earning Capacity.

Students and apprentices living alone are also not eligible for housing assistance if they are otherwise entitled to BAföG or vocational training assistance (BAB). This applies even if BAföG or BAB was denied because their parents’ income was too high. Please contact your local housing allowance office for further details.

You must also attach supporting documents to the completed application for continued benefits.

Current proof of your rent or other expenses, in particular:

• Bank statements showing the amount of your current rent,
• if applicable, a current statement of operating costs,
• For homeowners: Documentation of existing loans you have taken out to purchase, build, or renovate your single-family home or condominium,
• For property owners: current property tax assessment notice.

Proof of income for all household members, for example

• Pay stubs from the past few months,
• current pension statement,
• a current notice regarding the receipt of other social benefits (e.g., unemployment benefits, parental benefits, advance child support payments, sick pay),
• Proof of child support payments,
• Proof of interest and other investment income (for example, from savings accounts, time deposits, overnight deposit accounts, home savings contracts, and mutual funds); in particular, tax certificates.

Other supporting documents (if available), for example

• Certificate of Severe Disability and Notice of Long-Term Care Insurance Benefits

• § 22(1) of the Housing Allowance Act (WoGG)
• § 25 of the Housing Allowance Act (WoGG)

Objection