Housing benefit renewal: extending your Wohngeld
Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is normally granted for twelve months. After that the payments stop – unless you submit your renewal application in good time.
When do I need to submit my renewal application?
In good time before the end of the approval period – the housing benefit office will normally remind you in writing. Important: here too, housing benefit is only paid from the month in which the application is received, so submit it in good time.
How renewal works
The renewal application follows the same routes as the initial application: online, via the Wohngeld app or by post.
Good to know: if nothing has changed, the documents from the previous approval period are often sufficient – renewing is usually much simpler than applying for the first time.
Report changes immediately You must notify the housing benefit office without delay of any changes to your income, rent or household size – by sending a change notification. This applies throughout the entire approval period.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I forget my renewal application?
The payments stop when the approval period ends. Housing benefit will only be paid again from the month in which the new application is received – nothing is paid retroactively.
Will I automatically receive the same amount when my housing benefit is renewed?
Only if nothing has changed. Changes to your income, rent or household lead to a new calculation.
Do I have to submit all my documents again?
Not necessarily: if nothing has changed, the documents from the previous approval period are often sufficient. The housing benefit office will tell you what it needs.