Housing benefit according to the Housing Benefit Act (WoGG) is paid as a rent subsidy for owner-occupied housing (in the case of house/flat owners as an encumbrance subsidy). The amount of the housing benefit depends on the number of household members to be considered, the total income and the rent to be considered (cold rent + operating costs + water, heating costs are taken into account on a flat-rate basis; electricity costs are not considered).
Students who receive BAföG or whose parents' income does not allow for a positive BAföG decision are generally not entitled to housing benefit.
Access to housing benefit arises if
- students are not entitled to BAföG on the merits (e.g. due to missing proof of performance, after changing their field of study without good cause, after exceeding the maximum period of support or the age limit, because of a scholarship from the organisations for the promotion of gifted students, during a leave of absence, in part-time, second or doctoral studies) or
- BAföG is granted or received in the form of an interest-free state loan (e.g. graduation assistance) or
- at least one household member in a joint household with e.g. parents, siblings, a partner or child/children is not entitled to BAföG.
As a single person in a shared flat with other students, trainees or working people, you are usually considered a one-person household.
If one of these three basic access requirements is fulfilled, a claim to housing benefit is conceivable in principle, provided that
- your own income covers your living expenses and a part of the rent. Income can be e.g. maintenance, salary, fee, scholarship, student loan, personal loan, use of savings. The living includes the standard support requirement of the citizen's benefit and, if applicable, the health insurance contribution and tuition fees.
- the centre of living relations is located in the flat for which housing benefit is claimed.
Housing benefit can be paid from the month in which the application is received (for longer processing times, also retroactively from the month in which the application was submitted). Enclose your BAföG notification with your housing benefit application or submit it later.
Detailed information on housing benefit for students can be found on the housing benefit pages of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and at the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building. Advice and applications can be made at the housing benefit office responsible for your place of residence. Our Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs - BeSI advises you on the formal entry requirements, the required income and calculates a non-binding housing benefit amount with you.
International students: Danger for your stay - use the BeSI counselling service!
Students with a residence permit for the purpose of preparing for studies, studying and doing a doctorate according to § 16b AufenthG, who have not submitted a declaration of commitment, can – if a sufficiently high, regular and reliable personal income rules out serious risks to the continuation of the residence permit – also receive housing benefit. In any case, get detailed advice from the Counselling Centre for Social Affairs & International Affairs - BeSI before you apply for housing benefit!
