The housing benefit reform will come into force at the 1st of January 2023. Owing to this reform the number of people entitled to housing benefit will increase considerably.

Unfortunately housing benefit recipients will have to wait for their claims to be processed due to an expected rush of applications, because local autorities will have to manage this large number with the existing staff. Citizens will not lose their claim, because housing benefit is calculated retrospectively from receipt of the application.

You can estimate how much housing benefit you will receive by filling out a housing benefit calculator (www.wohngeldrechner.nrw.de) , then you can submit your application.

The following step-by-step guidance will help you by filling out the application.