Moving home and housing benefit in Frankfurt

Housing benefit is awarded for a specific dwelling and a specific household. If the entire household moves out, the basis of the previous decision notice falls away. Payment for the old dwelling ends with the move-out; there is no automatic “taking along” of the amount into the new dwelling.

That applies when moving to Frankfurt as when moving from Sachsenhausen to Höchst or from a rented flat into owner-occupied property. The new dwelling needs its own application with current evidence of rent or housing burden, income and household composition.

Anyone who moves to Frankfurt am Main applies to the authority responsible for the new dwelling – not to the former housing-benefit office. For living space in the city the Housing Office in Adickesallee is responsible. Details of local competence are under Competent authority.

Submit the new tenancy agreement or the documents on ownership plus income evidence of all household members. You can enclose the previous notice from another city for orientation; it does not replace the Frankfurt application. Whether and of what amount housing benefit is paid is examined afresh in Frankfurt – among other things because of Mietenstufe VI.

Even if the authority does not change, a change of dwelling in the city is a new set of facts. The countable gross cold rent, the floor area and often the number of rooms change. The previous award period for the old dwelling therefore ends, and you apply for housing benefit for the new address.

Report the planned move if possible before you move out. Then the authority can allocate the last payment for the old dwelling and the start for the new dwelling. Unbroken payment is not assured; housing benefit for the new dwelling usually takes effect from the month in which the new application arrives and you use the dwelling.

If one person leaves the dwelling while others stay, the decision notice does not end automatically as on a full move. The number of household members and often total income change. That can lower the amount or cause the claim to fall away – or, if a person with their own income moves out, raise the award for those who remain.

Such changes are subject to the duty to notify. Depending on the situation a change application is enough, or those who remain or the person moving away submit their own application. Typical cases are a separation and a child moving out; on separation see the Separation page.

If you move your residence out of the city, Frankfurt’s competence ends with the move-out. You must end the current decision notice or report the move to the authority. For the new dwelling the housing-benefit office of the municipality there is responsible; rent level and maximum amounts can differ.

Figures that applied for Frankfurt cannot be transferred. Submit the new application at the destination if possible in the month of moving in, so that no gap arises that can no longer be closed.

A move usually includes the move-out and move-in dates, the new address, the new tenancy agreement or proof of ownership and current income evidence. For a subtenancy the subtenancy agreement and a floor-plan sketch are added. The checklist is under Documents.

Anyone who already receives housing benefit fulfils the duty from the decision notice with the report. Anyone who is new to Frankfurt starts with a first application. After the decision a separate award period applies again; before it ends, think of the renewal.