Wohngeld for Low-Income Workers

Many employed people do not know that they may be entitled to Wohngeld despite working. Especially in a city with high rent levels like Cologne, employment income is often not enough to pay the rent. Wohngeld can be an important supplement here.

Wohngeld Despite Working – How Does That Work?

Wohngeld is not a benefit only for the unemployed. You can also receive Wohngeld as an employee with regular income – provided your income is below the applicable income limit.

In fact, a large proportion of Wohngeld recipients are employed. Especially in cities with high rents like Cologne, income from full-time, part-time or mini-jobs is often insufficient to cover the full housing costs.

How Is Employment Income Assessed?

In the Wohngeld calculation, not all of your gross income is assessed. Various deductions apply:

  • Income-related expenses allowance: a flat-rate amount is deducted from income (at least 100 euros per month for employees).
  • Social insurance contributions: contributions to pension, health, care and unemployment insurance reduce the assessable income.
  • Taxes: the wage tax paid and solidarity surcharge are taken into account.

Full-Time, Part-Time or Mini-Job?

The type of your employment does not matter for Wohngeld entitlement – only the amount of your income is decisive:

  • Full-Time Employment: Even with a full-time job, you can receive Wohngeld if your income – for example due to a low pay grade or many children – is insufficient for the rent.
  • Part-Time Employment: With part-time employment, the likelihood of Wohngeld entitlement is higher as the income is correspondingly lower.
  • Mini-Job / 520-Euro-Job: Mini-jobbers can also receive Wohngeld. The income from a mini-job is assessed against the Wohngeld entitlement but does not fundamentally exclude it.

What Counts as Income?

Various types of income are taken into account in the Wohngeld calculation:

  • Gross wages (including supplements, holiday and Christmas bonuses)
  • Income from self-employment (after deduction of business expenses)
  • Wage replacement benefits such as sick pay, unemployment benefit I, parental allowance

Wohngeld and Other Benefits

Wohngeld can be combined with certain other benefits. For example, you can receive Wohngeld and child benefit, Wohngeld and parental allowance, or Wohngeld and unemployment benefit I simultaneously.

Distinction from Bürgergeld

Wohngeld and Bürgergeld are mutually exclusive. Those receiving Bürgergeld generally do not receive Wohngeld, as housing costs are already included in Bürgergeld. Low-income workers should check whether Wohngeld or supplementary Bürgergeld is more favourable for them.

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