Find your housing benefit office

You apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) at the housing benefit office (Wohngeldstelle) where you live. Enter your postcode or town and we will show you which office is usually responsible – with a link to the official office finder for the address and opening hours.

Offices by federal state

Housing benefit in major cities

Which authority is the housing benefit office?

The Housing Benefit Act leaves it to the federal states to decide who is responsible (§ 24 WoGG). One rule applies everywhere: independent cities (kreisfreie Städte) have their own housing benefit office. Within a district (Landkreis), state law decides. In some states, the district authority (Landratsamt) handles all municipalities; in others, the larger towns and municipalities do it themselves. In Nordrhein-Westfalen, for example, every municipality has its own office. You will find the details on the page for each state.

What should I take to the housing benefit office?

Your completed application, a rent certificate from your landlord (Mietbescheinigung) or your tenancy agreement, proof of income for the last twelve months for everyone in your household, and your bank details. You will find the full list under Documents for your Wohngeld application. The form for your federal state is on our page Wohngeld application forms.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for housing benefit?

At the housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde) where you live. Depending on the federal state, this is your town or municipal council, the Amt or Verbandsgemeinde (a joint administration of small municipalities) or the district authority (Landratsamt). In independent cities (kreisfreie Städte), it is always the city council.

Does it cost anything to apply at the housing benefit office?

No. Applying at the housing benefit office is free of charge. You can get the forms there and on the websites of the federal states.

Can I apply for housing benefit online?

In many federal states, yes – through the online portal of the state or your local council (often with a BundID account). A paper application is possible everywhere.

When does the office start paying housing benefit?

Housing benefit is paid from the month in which the office receives your application. So it pays to apply early – you can send any missing documents later.

Calculate first, then apply: our housing benefit calculator shows you in two minutes whether an application is worthwhile. Our application assistant fills in your state’s form for you. You submit it yourself – and your housing benefit office makes the decision.

Einfach Wohngeld is not a public authority. The information on which office is responsible is general; what counts is the information from your local council or your state’s official office finder. Municipality directory © Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), Datenlizenz Deutschland – Namensnennung 2.0.