Housing benefit calculation examples for Hamburg
How does your rent affect your housing benefit (Wohngeld) – and what happens when it is above the maximum amount? Three fully worked examples show the logic of the housing benefit calculation for rent level 6.
The rent level 6 maximum amounts (2026)
The gross rent excluding heating is taken into account in the calculation up to these amounts. The maximum amount is made up of the base amount, the heating-cost supplement and the climate supplement:
| Household | Maximum amount |
|---|---|
| 1 person | 744,60 € |
| 2 people | 912,40 € |
| 3 people | 1.086,80 € |
| 4 people | 1.267,20 € |
| 5 people | 1.447,60 € |
| each additional person | + 181,40 € |
Example 1: single person, rent below the maximum amount
Gross rent excluding heating 650 €, gross income 1.900 € a month.
The rent (650 €) is below the maximum amount for one person (744,60 €) and is taken into account in full. A flat 30 per cent is deducted from income for taxes and social insurance – leaving around 1.330 €. The income limit for one person (2.275 €) is therefore comfortably met. The exact housing benefit amount is determined by the formula; for orientation: the Hamburg average in 2023 was 318 €.
Example 2: family with one child, mid-range rent
Three-person household, gross rent excluding heating 1.050 €, gross income 3.200 €.
The rent stays below the maximum amount of 1.086,80 € and is fully taken into account. After the 30 per cent deduction, around 2.240 € of the income remains – below the income limit for three people (3.826 €). Here too: the exact amount follows from the statutory formula.
Example 3: rent above the maximum amount
Single person, gross rent excluding heating 900 €.
With a rent above 744,60 €, only the maximum amount is taken into account – the excess of 155,40 € is disregarded in the calculation. The entitlement is not cancelled as a result; it simply does not work out any higher.
Important for your estimate The examples show the logic of the calculation – not binding amounts. The exact entitlement is determined by the housing benefit office using the statutory tables. To do so, it needs your details on rent, income and household size.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work out my housing benefit myself?
The logic, yes; the exact amount, no: the calculation uses statutory coefficients that only the housing benefit office applies with binding effect. Our examples help you estimate your entitlement realistically.
What happens if my rent is above the maximum amount?
Then only the maximum amount is taken into account – the part of your rent above it does not increase the housing benefit. The entitlement itself is not cancelled.
How much housing benefit can I get on an income of 1.900 €?
There is no blanket answer, because alongside income, rent and household size also count. Example 1 shows the order of magnitude: an entitlement is clearly possible; the exact amount is calculated by the housing benefit office.
Is there an official housing benefit calculator?
Yes, the City of Hamburg provides a housing benefit calculator on hamburg.de that gives you an initial estimate. The binding calculation is then carried out by the housing benefit office using the statutory tables.