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Letter from the Wohngeldstelle (housing benefit office): decision and repayment

Wohngeld (housing benefit) is granted for a fixed period. During this period you must report certain changes straight away. Otherwise the Wohngeldstelle (housing benefit office) can later demand money back. Here you can read how to check the decision and what you can do about a Rückforderung (repayment demand).

Typical letters

Widerspruch (objection) or Klage (court action) against the Wohngeldstelle?

Disputes about Wohngeld go to the Verwaltungsgerichte (administrative courts). Whether you must first file a Widerspruch (objection) or go to court directly depends on the federal state (§ 68 Abs. 1 VwGO). What applies to you is stated in the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung (information on legal remedies) at the end of the decision.

In both cases the deadline is one month from the date the decision is deemed delivered (§ 70 Abs. 1, § 74 Abs. 1 VwGO). A decision sent by post counts as delivered on the fourth day after it was posted (§ 37 Abs. 2 SGB X, because the Wohngeld Act is part of the Social Code). If the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung is missing or wrong, the deadline is one year (§ 58 Abs. 2 VwGO).

Write your reply in German. German authorities work in German, so a letter in German is the safest way to make sure your reply is understood and processed. The templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.

Which changes do I have to report?

During the approval period (Bewilligungszeitraum) you must report without delay (unverzüglich) if (§ 27 Abs. 3 WoGG): fewer people live in the household, your rent falls by more than 15 percent, or the income of all household members rises by more than 15 percent.

If all the people counted in the decision move out of the home, the decision becomes invalid. You must also report this straight away (§ 28 Abs. 1 WoGG).

Where can I get free help?

Tenants' associations (Mietervereine) and social associations (Sozialverbände) advise their members. If you have little money, you can apply for Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance) at the Amtsgericht (local court). The Wohngeldstelle itself must advise you about your rights and duties (§ 14 SGB I).

Common questions

How long do I have to challenge a Wohngeld decision?

One month from the date it is deemed delivered, for the Widerspruch or, where there is none, for the Klage (§ 70, § 74 VwGO).

What do I have to report to the Wohngeldstelle?

Without delay: fewer household members, a fall in rent of more than 15 percent or a rise in income of more than 15 percent (§ 27 Abs. 3 WoGG), and also moving out (§ 28 WoGG).

When do I have to submit a new application?

Before the end of the approval period stated in the decision. Wohngeld does not continue automatically.

In which language should I write to the Wohngeldstelle?

In German. German authorities work in German, so a letter in German is the safest way to make sure your reply is understood and processed. The templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.

Sources (German law and official pages)

  1. § 25 WoGG: Bewilligungszeitraum
  2. § 27 WoGG: Änderung des Wohngeldes
  3. § 28 WoGG: Unwirksamkeit des Bewilligungsbescheides
  4. § 14 SGB I: Beratung
  5. § 68 SGB I: Besondere Teile des Sozialgesetzbuchs
  6. § 58 VwGO: Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung
  7. § 68 VwGO: Vorverfahren
  8. § 70 VwGO: Form und Frist des Widerspruchs
  9. § 74 VwGO: Klagefrist
  10. § 37 SGB X: Bekanntgabe des Verwaltungsaktes
  11. § 1 Beratungshilfegesetz: Voraussetzungen der Beratungshilfe

Research as of: 10 November 2026