DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Housing
German news & articles
Millions in Germany could face housing benefit delay
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Millions in Germany could face housing benefit delay

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

July 2025: 8 changes affecting expats in GermanyJuly 2025: 8 changes affecting expats in Germany
Haushalt 2025: How will Germany’s new budget impact our lives?Haushalt 2025: How will Germany’s new budget impact our lives?
2025 in Germany: All the changes you need to know about2025 in Germany: All the changes you need to know about
Monthly Jobcenter visits soon obligatory for Bürgergeld recipientsMonthly Jobcenter visits soon obligatory for Bürgergeld recipients
FDP push to freeze Bürgergeld rises in 2025 budgetFDP push to freeze Bürgergeld rises in 2025 budget
Bürgergeld changing from 2025: What you need to knowBürgergeld changing from 2025: What you need to know
German budget 2025: Kindergeld changes, defence boosts and social housingGerman budget 2025: Kindergeld changes, defence boosts and social housing
April 2024: 10 changes affecting expats in GermanyApril 2024: 10 changes affecting expats in Germany
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Nov 22, 2022
Olivia Logan

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for Germany at IamExpat Media. Olivia first came to Germany in 2013 to work as an Au Pair. Since studying English Literature and German in Scotland, Freiburg and Berlin she has worked as a features journalist and news editor.Read more

Low-income earners who are set to receive Wohngeld housing benefit may have to wait months for money after the government admitted planned reforms would overload administrative processes.

Flood of housing benefit applications will cause delay

Germany’s traffic-light coalition is currently in the process of a historic overhaul to the country’s social security system. From January 1, 2023 the government will expand its Wohngeld housing benefit scheme. 1,4 million people across Germany who are expected to start receiving Wohngeld will likely have their payments delayed due to an rush of applications.

Currently, 618.165 households in Germany receive Wohngeld payments every month. Benefit payments are calculated based on maximum income thresholds, which depend on the number of people in your household and your rent band (Mietstufe). As the government expands the household income eligibility threshold, the number of Wohngeld recipients is expected to increase to 2 million households.

Once the reforms are implemented at the beginning of 2023, employees of Germany’s local authorities, who say they are already overworked, will be tasked with millions of further applications to process. Speaking to Bild newspaper, an employee at the housing office in the Pankow district of Berlin said she expected the workload to triple in the new year.

Wohngeld to include heating subsidy payment

The government’s reforms will not just increase income thresholds but also restructure Wohngeld payments. The payments will soon include a permanent subsidy payment for heating costs. On average, Wohngeld monthly payments are also set to increase by an average of 190 euros. Once the rates increase, households in Germany that receive Wohngeld will be given an average of 370 euros per month to help with rent, mortgage and utility costs.

The coalition government’s plans have already passed through the Bundestag but still needs to be approved by the Bundesrat.

By Olivia Logan