Housing benefit (Wohngeld) for pensioners
Many pensioners are entitled to housing benefit (Wohngeld) without knowing it. Wohngeld is not social assistance: you don’t have to use up your savings down to the last euro, and your children are not asked to pay.
How your pension counts for Wohngeld
- What counts is your gross pension (Bruttorente) – the amount before health and long-term care insurance are deducted.
- Deducted from this are the flat-rate allowance for work-related expenses (€8.50 a month) and a flat 10% for health and long-term care insurance – plus a further 10% if you pay income tax.
- If you have at least 33 years of basic pension periods (Grundrentenzeiten), you get an extra allowance of up to €281.50 a month (§ 17a WoGG).
- If you have a degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung) of 100, there is a further allowance of €150 a month.
Examples: single person, rent level (Mietenstufe) III
Gross rent excluding heating (Bruttokaltmiete: rent plus service charges, without heating) of €450; health and long-term care insurance contributions paid; no income tax; no basic pension periods:
| Gross pension per month | Wohngeld 2026 | From 2027 (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| €800 | €368 | €318 |
| €1,000 | €290 | €237 |
| €1,200 | €210 | €152 |
| €1,400 | €126 | €61 |
| €1,600 | €40 | €0 |
Calculated with our calculation engine (its results match all 11 sample calculations from the Federal Ministry of Housing, as of 1 January 2025). “€0” means no entitlement.
Wohngeld or basic income support in old age?
If your pension is very low, basic income support in old age (Grundsicherung im Alter) may leave you better off. You cannot get both. The social welfare office (Sozialamt) deals with basic income support; you apply for Wohngeld at the housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde). If your pension is close to the threshold for basic income support, get advice.
How to apply
Start by checking your figures with the Wohngeld calculator. For the application, you mainly need your current pension notice (Rentenbescheid) or pension adjustment notice (Rentenanpassungsmitteilung) and your tenancy agreement. Our application assistant shows you, question by question, what to enter.
Sources: Wohngeldgesetz §§ 14, 16, 17, 17a, 19; BT-Drs. 21/8284 (2027). Last updated: 7 November 2026.