District of Börde - Office for Social Affairs and Integration - Housing Benefit Department

What is housing benefit?

Housing benefit is financial assistance from the state for people on low incomes to help with housing costs. Housing benefit is paid for the entire household. The amount of housing benefit depends on the number of household members, the income of all household members and the amount of rent.

Who can apply for housing benefit?

Tenants of residential property can apply for a rent subsidy and owners of residential property can apply for an encumbrance allowance

Where can I apply for housing benefit?

At the housing benefit office of the Börde district in 39340 Haldensleben, Bornsche Straße 2 or in 39387 Oschersleben (Bode), Triftstraße 9-10.

You can get advice in person on the consultation day or request the housing benefit application by telephone or print it out from the Internet. You can find the application forms on the Börde district website or from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Digitalisation (MID).

The application must be submitted in writing on the application form to the housing benefit office.

What will change for housing benefit in 2023?

Some housing benefit entitlements have been doubled and income limits have been raised. The maximum amounts for rent and charges have been increased and an amount has been introduced to relieve the burden of heating costs.

What determines the amount of housing benefit?

Housing benefit depends on three factors: the number of people in the household, the amount of rent or charges and the total income of all people in the household.

Can I receive housing benefit if I receive other social benefits?

If you receive citizen's allowance, social benefit, social assistance, basic income support, BAB or Bafög, you are excluded from housing benefit. However, you are welcome to seek advice from the Housing Benefit Office regarding a change.

Can I use a housing benefit calculator on the Internet to work out my entitlement?

The housing benefit calculators available on the Internet are not recommended. Unfortunately, they often do not ask about all the circumstances relevant to the calculation or do not take regional differences (rent level) into account in the calculation. In addition, specialised knowledge is required in order to make the correct entries (income according to housing benefit law, income-related expenses, allowances, deductions).

What documents are required to apply for a rent subsidy or housing allowance?

1. rent subsidy

• Application for rent subsidy
• Tenancy agreement
• Operating cost statement, if applicable
• Proof of rent payment
• If the basic cable supply (television) is not included in the rent, proof of separate payment and the amount.

2. encumbrance allowance

• Application for a subsidy
• Proof of ownership (extract from the land register, purchase or notarised contract)
• Property tax assessment notice and proof of payment of the property tax
• Floor plan of the house with the corresponding information on the living space
• Proof of any loans taken out in connection with the purchase, modernisation or maintenance of the property (borrowed funds certificate)
  1. Loan agreements
  2. Annual account statements
  3. Current proof of payment of instalments
  4. Building society contracts and current proof of payment of building society contributions

for 1. and 2. proof of income of all persons living in the household

1. employment contract
2. Statements of earnings
3. Benefit statements (unemployment benefit I, citizen's allowance, sickness benefit, BAföG, child benefit supplement...)
4. Pension certificates
5. Notices of advance maintenance payments and the last proof of receipt of this benefit
6. Maintenance determination and the last 3 proofs of receipt of maintenance payments
7. Proof of child benefit
8. Proof of an existing severe disability

(In individual cases, it may be necessary to submit further evidence, documents, etc.)