State Housing Benefits

If you have a low income, you may be eligible for housing benefit. Housing benefit is money given to you by the state that can be used to pay for accommodation. It does not have to be repaid. Your entitlement to housing benefit and the amount you are given depends on factors such as:

• the number of people in your household
• the total income of the household
• the rental costs (gross)

Theoretically, international students are also entitled to apply for housing benefit. In most cases however, they will not qualify because:

• students who already receive financial support from a study programme are not eligible for further assistance
• students who normally live with their parents in their home country but are temporarily unable to do so because they are studying in Germany are not eligible
• students need to earn above a certain income level to qualify, because housing benefit is intended as a supplement to your earnings rather than a means of affording accommodation

If you are unsure whether or not you will be eligible for housing benefit, ask for assistance from a member of the student advisory service at the German university where you are studying. If you are unable to support yourself and the university services agree to offer you financial assistance, this will typically be granted for one year.