Housing security - apply for social assistance
You can lose your home for various reasons (for example, because of an eviction action due to rent arrears, a termination by the landlord due to behaviour contrary to the terms of the lease or because of personal use, or because of a fire or water damage)
If you are threatened with losing your home due to rent arrears, you can apply for social assistance. If you already receive or are entitled to citizen's allowance (SGB II benefits), you can apply to your local job centre to have your rent debts paid. If you have already become homeless and need support in renting a new flat, for example by paying a rent deposit, you can also contact the social welfare office/job centre.
If you are acutely homeless, you can initially be given a place in emergency accommodation. Please contact your local authority for this.
Responsible authority
the social welfare office
Social welfare office is,
- if you live in an urban district: the municipal administration
- if you live in a rural district: the district administration
Note: Some rural districts have transferred responsibility to larger towns in their district. If you live in a rural district, the district administration office or the municipal administration of your place of residence can tell you which authority is responsible.
If you receive or would like to apply for citizens' allowance, the local job centre of the city or district is responsible for you.
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- You are threatened with homelessness or
- You have already lost your home or
- Your own financial resources are not sufficient to pay a rent deposit and, for example, the costs of moving and the possibilities of self-help have been exhausted.
Procedure
Contact the relevant office in person as soon as possible.
Depending on the individual case, the rent debts can be taken over or the employees of the social welfare office/job centre can negotiate with the landlord to get you the flat. This financial assistance is usually granted as a loan.
Deadlines
Contact the relevant office as soon as possible so that you can get help as quickly as possible.
Required documents
- Identity card or passport
- for foreign nationals: Proof of legal residence in Germany
- Income documents such as wage or salary statements, notifications of unemployment benefit, citizen's allowance, pension, social assistance
- Documents on existing debt and maintenance obligations
- in the event of acute homelessness: additional suitable documents showing acute homelessness, such as a court order, discharge certificate, proof of loss of accommodation
- if there is a risk of losing your home: additionally
- Documents that illustrate the impending loss of accommodation, e.g. notice of termination, eviction action, eviction date
- Tenancy agreement
- Proof of payment of the current rent, e.g. bank statement
- if you need a flat: additional documents that show the necessity of the change of residence (e.g. notice of cancellation, certificates, rental agreement of the previous flat).
Note: In individual cases, the responsible office may request further information and proof from you.
Costs
none
Miscellaneous
If you are interested in social housing, you will need a certificate of eligibility for housing.
Legal basis
§ 35 Sozialgesetzbuch Zwölftes Buch (SGB XII):
- § 35 Unterkunft und Heizung
- § 36 Sonstige Hilfen zur Sicherung der Unterkunft
- §§ 67,68 HIlfen zur Überwindung besonderer sozialer Schwierigkeiten
Verordnung zur Durchführung der Hilfe zur Überwindung besonderer sozialer Schwierigkeiten:
- § 1 Persönliche Voraussetzungen
- § 4 Erhaltung und Beschaffung einer Wohnung
Sozialgesetzbuch Zweites Buch (SGB II):
- § 22 Bedarfe für Unterkunft und Heizung
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 07.10.2024