Glossary of housing benefit in Frankfurt

Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is a statutory subsidy towards housing costs under the Housing Benefit Act. Tenants receive it as a rent subsidy (Mietzuschuss), owner-occupiers as an owner subsidy (Lastenzuschuss).

Whether a claim exists depends on household members, total income and countable rent or housing burden up to the maximum. In Frankfurt Mietenstufe VI applies. The application is made by anyone who occupies the dwelling in the city and meets the eligibility rules.

The rent level (Mietenstufe) assigns municipalities by the local rent level and determines the maximum amounts of countable rent. Frankfurt am Main is assigned to level VI – city-wide, not by district.

A higher level means higher caps, not automatically more housing benefit. The actual gross cold rent is counted only up to the maximum. Presentation and classification: Rent level Frankfurt.

Gross cold rent (Bruttokaltmiete) is rent in the housing-benefit sense: net cold rent plus cold operating costs. Heating, hot water, electricity, a garage and similar independent services do not belong to it.

If the gross cold rent paid lies above the maximum, the excess remains unconsidered; the application does not fail for that reason alone. Depth: page on gross cold rent and on the amount.

A household member is anyone who occupies the same living space as the applicant and keeps house together. Spouses, registered partners and children usually belong if they live there.

The number of people to be taken into account determines the maximum and the formula. In a shared flat each person can be their own household if they do not keep house together. Rules: Household members.

Transfer benefits in the housing-benefit sense are priority social benefits in which housing costs (Kosten der Unterkunft) are already included. Typical are Bürgergeld and basic income support in old age, insofar as the rent is taken into account there.

Anyone who receives such a benefit is usually excluded from housing benefit. BAföG “in principle” (dem Grunde nach) works similarly for students living alone. Boundary: Bürgergeld and BAföG.

The owner subsidy (Lastenzuschuss) is housing benefit for owner-occupied property. Instead of rent, burdensome outgoings are counted – for example loan interest and certain running costs, not the full purchase sum.

The conditions on income and household correspond to those of the rent subsidy. In Frankfurt the Housing Office remains responsible. Page: Owner subsidy, documents under Documents.

The rent subsidy (Mietzuschuss) is housing benefit for rented flats including subtenancy, insofar as a paid use relationship exists. The basis is the countable gross cold rent up to the maximum of the rent level.

It does not replace the rent in full, but reduces the burden according to income and household size. The counterpart for property is the owner subsidy. Application route: Application.

The award period is the span for which housing benefit is set. It is usually twelve months and can last at most 24 months where circumstances are comparatively constant.

After expiry payment ends if no renewal application is submitted. Changes during the term can trigger a notification or an increase application. See Decision notice and Renewal.

The maximum amount caps the rent or housing burden that enters the calculation. It depends on the rent level and the number of household members. In Frankfurt (level VI) the amounts lie higher than in many surrounding municipalities.

A rent above the maximum does not automatically lead to a refusal; only the excess remains outside. A heating-cost and climate component are counted in addition. Classification: Amount of housing benefit.

Total income is the sum of the incomes relevant to housing benefit of all household members to be taken into account, after deduction of certain allowances and flat-rate work-related expenses. It includes earned income, pensions, maintenance and many wage-replacement benefits.

Not every receipt is counted in full; one-off payments can be spread. If total income rises or falls by more than 15 per cent, a duty to notify or an increase application applies. See Income and Job change.

The duty to notify requires you to report changes that reduce the claim, cause it to fall away or shift the basis of the decision notice. Typical are a strongly risen income, a lower rent, fewer household members, a move or receipt of a priority transfer benefit.

Omitted notifications can trigger repayments. A higher rent or a fallen income do not of themselves lead to more housing benefit; an increase application is often needed for that. Overview: Duty to notify.