If you want to receive housing benefit for longer than the authorisation period, you will have to make a new application. To avoid disadvantages (interruption of authorisation, interruption of housing benefit payment), you are advised to apply well before the authorisation period comes to an end. If you have not received housing benefit for longer than one month, you will have to make a new application.
There are various ways of applying for housing benefit. We recommend the online application for continued benefit.
Alternatively, you can download the application documents as a PDF or collect an application form from your nearest district authority offices (Bezirksamt).
Because your housing benefit office knows you already, you will only have to fill out one of the following application forms:
- Application for continued benefit for rented accommodation – rent subsidy (PDF)
- Application for continued benefit for your own accommodation (e.g. owner-ocupied) – encumbrance allowance (PDF)
Please send this application to your district housing benefit office.
Please only use one route for making your application (online, email or by post). Applying simultaneously via different channels will make the processing time longer overall.
So that a decision about your application can be made as quickly as possible, your application must be completed in full and the relevant documentary evidence included for all the information provided in the application. Incomplete information and missing documents (e.g. about members of the household, housing costs or income) will be followed up as a rule, thus extending the processing time. Please do not send any original documents as evidence.
If you have any questions when filling in the application,
- refer to the notes in the application.
- refer to the FAQ on this website.
If you can’t find an answer to your questions there, you can telephone the Housing Benefit Hotline.
