Housing benefit change notification

Prerequisites

The requirements for a change in housing benefit are:

• the reduction or increase of the income to be taken into account by more than 15%
• the increase or decrease in the number of household members,
• the increase or decrease of the rent or charge to be taken into account in the case of residential property by more than 15%.

These changes can, but do not have to, lead to an increase in housing benefit.
For details, please contact your local housing benefit authority.

Documents required

The following is required to notify changes:

• Evidence of change in rent or encumbrance
• Proof of changed income
• Evidence of the change in the household members to be taken into account.

In individual cases, additional documents (e.g. additional income, proof of property, self-disclosure of a self-employed person, income forecast for the self-employed, proof of severe disability, etc.) may be required.

Please note

In order to avoid or uncover the illegal claiming of housing benefit, the housing benefit authority may regularly check the household members by means of a so-called data comparison.

Deadlines

Changes in the circumstances that are significant for the service must be reported immediately.


The increase in housing benefit takes place from the time the application is submitted. A retrospective increase in housing benefit is generally not possible.

Procedure

After receiving the notification of change, the housing benefit office will carry out an examination of the housing benefit entitlement.
You will receive a new notification.

Processing time

The processing time depends, among other things, on the completeness of the information and the submission of the evidence required to process the application.


On average, it takes 17 weeks (average as of July 2024) before you receive your housing benefit notice.


Longer processing times will not be at your expense: housing benefit can also be paid retroactively for periods from the date of receipt of the application.

Fees

No

Legal remedies

contradiction

Legal basis

Section 27 (3) of the Housing Allowance Act (WOGG) Changes to the housing allowance

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/wogg/__27.html