Overview
- The housing ministry confirmed no rule changes for 2026, so asset benchmarks used by offices remain at roughly €60,000 for a single person and €30,000 for each additional household member as administrative reference values.
- Asset checks allow exceptions for contractually locked retirement savings, with amounts up to €1,500 per completed year of age capped at €90,000 excluded from countable assets, subject to individual review.
- Eligibility and benefit size are calculated under the Housing Benefit Act using household size, counted income, and eligible rent or owner costs, with renters receiving a rent supplement and owners potentially a burden supplement.
- Income used in the calculation can be reduced by standard deductions such as 10–30% for taxes and social contributions and certain allowances; reporting also notes a €1,800 income disregard for households with severe disability or care needs.
- Around 1.2 million people currently receive housing benefit in Germany, with about 44% of recipients being families and roughly 52% pensioners, and illustrative cases show minimum-income tests are individualized, for example €1,570 for a single parent with a young child and €650 warm rent.