Basic income support includes coverage of rent and heating costs. To ensure that your housing costs are fully taken into account for the duration of your benefit receipt, these costs must be reasonable.
The reasonableness of the housing is assessed only after 12 months (waiting period), unless the rent exceeds 1.5 times the rent cap. Until then, the actual costs of the rental housing or owner-occupied home are covered.
Heating costs are covered only to a reasonable extent to encourage energy conservation.
How long are the actual costs of accommodation recognized?
When you submit your application, we will review your housing costs to determine whether they are reasonable. In this context, “reasonable” means that your apartment must fall within the range we have defined in terms of size and cost. You can find information on the reasonableness of housing under the heading “Reasonableness.”
If you own your home and therefore do not have regular rent expenses but still incur ongoing housing costs, you can find more information under the section “Coverage of Housing Costs for Homeowners.”
Information on renting and moving
Are you planning to move?
Please contact your assigned case worker with a rental offer
We will review whether we can approve your rental of the apartment.
You can find out which team and which case worker is specifically responsible for your case by calling the following number: 0611/31-3492.
The cost of the new apartment must be reasonable. You can find the criteria for reasonableness in the next tab.
You will receive confirmation as to whether the apartment meets our criteria for reasonableness. If you are already receiving benefits from another social services agency, you can submit this confirmation to them, and they will then decide whether the move is necessary in your case and whether it can be approved.
Provided that we (and, if applicable, your previous provider) agree to the rental of a new and reasonable apartment, we can cover the required security deposit (up to three months’ base rent) as a loan in accordance with Section 22(6) of SGB II. Please contact your designated representative at our office for further details. In addition, the costs for a moving truck may be covered, if applicable.
Please do not sign a lease before this review has been completed, as otherwise no costs related to the move can be covered.
For more information on finding housing and support from the Wiesbaden Housing Agency, as well as addresses of housing associations, please refer to our information sheet on the coverage of housing costs.
The appropriateness of accommodation costs is made up of the size of the apartment, the composition of your benefit community and the basic rent.
Standards for appropriate living space are
for single persons:
up to 50 square meters of living space
for 2 persons:
up to 60 square meters of living space
for 3 persons:
up to 75 square meters of living space
for each additional person included in the household
an additional 12 square meters of living space in each case
Another criterion for the definition of reasonable accommodation costs is the basic rent per square meter of living space. This is based on the current rent index. However, it is capped depending on the size of the apartment.
The following upper limits apply to the basic rent:
for apartments under 60 square meters of living space
maximum €10.79 basic rent per square meter
for apartments between 60 and 100 square meters
maximum € 9.92 basic rent per square meter
for apartments larger than 100 square meters
maximum € 10.74 basic rent per square meter
In addition, there are reasonable ancillary and operating costs.
Assumption of accommodation costs for existing residential property
If you live in your own property, you are also entitled to benefits for accommodation and heating.
The following are taken into account
debt interest
property tax
other public charges
the usual ancillary costs
heating costs
As a rule, we cannot assume the repayment of your real estate financing.
Please note that we also check the appropriateness of your own property after a waiting period of 12 months. Information on the appropriateness of living space can be found under the heading "Appropriateness".
Utility and heating bills
As a rule, you will receive a utility bill and a heating bill once a year. You submit these statements to your benefits administrator.
Within the waiting period of one year and provided that your accommodation costs are reasonable, we can generally accept additional claims - as long as the additional claim does not exceed the statutory limits.
Note on dealing with increased energy costs
Energy costs have risen sharply.
We have summarized important information for you below. The information applies to all persons who already receive SGB II benefits on an ongoing basis. Please note that this is general information. Deviations are possible in individual cases.
First of all, it is important to distinguish between heating costs and household electricity costs.
Heating costs The monthly heating cost deductions are taken into account in the needs calculation as part of the accommodation and heating costs. In most cases, gas is used for heating, but other energy sources (such as electricity for heating) are also taken into account. This means that increased discounts and high additional payments due as part of the annual consumption bills are usually covered by the municipal job center. It is important that consumption remains reasonable despite the increased costs, otherwise the costs may not be taken into account in full. If required, you can obtain further information on appropriateness from your benefits administrator.
Please make sure that you always submit the budget billing plans and invoices from your energy supplier or landlord to us as soon as you receive them. This will help to avoid payment arrears and the associated costs.
Are you not yet receiving benefits under SGB II, but are no longer able to cover your living expenses due to increased gas discounts? Then you are welcome to use this SGB II calculator (opens in a new tab) to check whether you may be entitled to benefits under SGB II. You can then submit an application to us.
Costs for household electricity Costs for household electricity are already included in the standard requirement. Until the upcoming adjustment of the standard requirements by the federal government, the shares provided may not be sufficient to pay the increased deductions. If you are already in arrears, you can apply for a loan to cover the arrears. The same applies to additional claims from annual consumption invoices if you are unable to pay these from your own funds. Please contact your benefits administrator as soon as possible as soon as you receive a bill/reminder from your energy supplier.
You can submit an application for a loan to cover your household electricity arrears together with the necessary evidence to your benefits administrator.
Further information If you have any further questions, you can contact your benefits administrator.
You can find general tips on saving energy in the enclosed flyer "PrimaKlima".
Minors and young - single - unemployed adults (up to the age of 25) are generally not entitled to have the accommodation costs for their own accommodation covered. Exceptions are possible and will be examined on a case-by-case basis. If, in justified individual cases, permission is granted to rent your own accommodation, the basic rent may not exceed a maximum amount of 440.00 euros. The legal requirements of § 22 Para. 5 SGB II apply.
Brokerage fee
We would like to point out that we do not accept any brokerage fees.