Housing Allowance Calculator Germany
Check your German housing benefit (Wohngeld) for 2026 under § 19 WoGG: household size, rent level, gross income and rent give the monthly and yearly amount.
Household Information
Housing Benefit per Month
€385.00
Housing Benefit per Year
€4,620.00
Note: This calculation is for guidance only. Calculated under § 19 WoGG with maximum amounts, heating cost relief and climate component (as of 1 January 2025). Allowances under § 17 no. 1 and 3 WoGG (1,800 € per severely disabled household member, 1,320 € for single parents with a child under 18) are deducted; maintenance payments and higher work expenses are not; your municipality's rent level is listed in the Wohngeld regulation. As of: 2026.
Note: These calculations are for informational purposes only and do not replace professional tax or financial advice. All information without guarantee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is entitled to housing benefit (Wohngeld)?
Wohngeld is available to low-income households who earn too much for Bürgergeld but too little to afford adequate housing. Since the 2023 reform, significantly more households are eligible.
How is housing benefit calculated?
The amount depends on household income, number of household members, and the local rent level. The formula considers rent caps that vary by municipality and household size.
Which income do I enter in the housing benefit calculator?
Not your gross or net pay, but the monthly total income as defined by the Housing Benefit Act: the annual income of all household members after work-related expenses, minus a flat 10% each for taxes, health and long-term care insurance, and pension insurance (§ 16 WoGG), divided by 12. Example: 2,000 euros gross a month is 24,000 euros a year; after the 1,230-euro employee allowance and the 30% flat deduction, this gives about 1,328 euros a month. The calculator puts the amount you enter straight into the formula of § 19 WoGG: for one person with a base rent of 600 euros it shows about 107 euros of housing benefit with 1,328 euros, but none at all with the 2,000 euros gross.
Guide
What is the Housing Allowance Calculator Germany?
The housing benefit calculator computes the rent subsidy or mortgage subsidy for low-income households under the Housing Benefit Act.
How does the Housing Allowance Calculator Germany work?
Enter household size, total income and rent. The calculator applies the housing benefit formula linking income, rent and household size. Since the Wohngeld-Plus reform of 2023 significantly more households qualify.
Key Data and Facts
Average housing benefit claim: 287 euros/month (pure housing-benefit households, end of 2024, Destatis). Income, rent, household size and rent level determine the amount. Heating cost relief and climate component included since 2023; maximum amounts last adjusted on 1 January 2025.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to calculate the housing benefit step by step: 1. Determine the household size: count all persons who live in the household and form an economic unit. 2. Determine the total income: the gross income of all household members less work-related expenses (at least the 1,230 EUR allowance per employed person). For taxes and social security contributions a flat 10, 20 or 30 % is then deducted (§ 16 WoGG). Allowances under § 17 WoGG come off afterwards, e.g. 1,800 EUR a year per severely disabled household member and 1,320 EUR for single parents with a child under 18. Child benefit and parental allowance (up to 300 EUR) are not counted. 3. Enter the rental costs: the gross cold rent or the burden for owners. Maximum amounts apply depending on the rent level of the municipality (I to VII). Since 2023 a heating-cost component and a climate component have been added. 4. Housing benefit formula: the calculator applies the statutory formula under Paragraph 19 WoGG, which incorporates income, rent and household members into a complex calculation. 5. Submit an application: housing benefit is only paid from the month of application, retroactive payment is not possible. Example: single employee, municipality with rent level VI, gross income 1,800 EUR/month, rent excl. heating 650 EUR. Total income: (1,800 - 102.50 work expenses) x 70 % = 1,188.25 EUR. Maximum amount rent level VI (1 person): 615 EUR + 19.20 EUR climate component = 634.20 EUR, plus 110.40 EUR heating relief: M = 744.60 EUR. Housing benefit: about 247 EUR/month. At the end of 2024 about 1.24 million households received housing benefit; pensioners with a low pension can also qualify.
Calculation Example
Single person, rent level VI, gross 1,800 EUR/month, rent excl. heating 650 EUR. Total income: (1,800 - 102.50) x 70 % = 1,188.25 EUR. Rent taken into account: 634.20 EUR (maximum incl. climate component) + 110.40 EUR heating relief. Housing benefit: about 247 EUR/month.
Sources
Official sources
Calculations are based on applicable German laws and official data:
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS)
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung
- Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
Full methodology at Methodology.
Reviewed by Konstantin Iakovlev · Last updated:
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