Wohngeldstelle (housing benefit office)
Wohngeld Rückforderung (repayment demand): what you can do now
What this letter means
The Wohngeldstelle demands Wohngeld back if you were entitled to less or none for a certain period. Common reasons: the income rose by more than 15 percent, someone moved out, or the rent went down (§ 27 Abs. 2 and 3 WoGG).
The authority then cancels the decision for the past and demands the money back under § 50 SGB X. If the whole home is given up, the decision becomes invalid from the following month (§ 28 Abs. 1 WoGG).
If changes only become known after the approval period, a new decision is generally only allowed for three years before the authority found out. If a reportable change was not reported (fewer household members, rent down by more than 15 percent or income up by more than 15 percent), the limit is ten years from the change (§ 27 Abs. 4 WoGG).
What to do now
- 1Write down the date of the decision and the date the deadline ends.
- 2Check for which months and for what reason money is demanded back.
- 3Compare the income used with your proof of income for these months.
- 4Check whether the change was only temporary. Only changes that are not just temporary count (§ 27 Abs. 2 WoGG).
- 5File a Widerspruch (objection) or a Klage (court action), depending on the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung. Write it in German. The templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.
- 6If you cannot pay all at once, apply to your city or district for Ratenzahlung (payment in instalments).
How you can reply
File a Widerspruch (objection)
If the change was only temporary, was below 15 percent or was calculated wrongly.
Template: Widerspruch gegen einen Bescheid (Jobcenter, Krankenkasse)Request Akteneinsicht (access to your file)
If it is unclear where the authority got the income data from.
Template: Akteneinsicht bei einer Behoerde beantragenApply for Ratenzahlung (payment in instalments)
If the demand is correct. Explain your income and expenses.
Common questions
My income only went up for a short time. Do I have to pay back?
The Wohngeldstelle only makes a new decision for changes that are not just temporary (§ 27 Abs. 2 WoGG). Explain in your Widerspruch why the increase was only short.
From what income increase do I have to report?
If the income of all household members rises by more than 15 percent compared with the decision (§ 27 Abs. 3 WoGG).
How far back can the Wohngeldstelle demand money?
As a rule, no more than three years before it found out. For unreported changes under § 27 Abs. 2 WoGG (fewer household members, rent down by more than 15 percent, income up by more than 15 percent), up to ten years from the change (§ 27 Abs. 4 WoGG).
Sources (German law and official pages)
- § 27 WoGG: Änderung des Wohngeldes
- § 28 WoGG: Unwirksamkeit des Bewilligungsbescheides
- § 50 SGB X: Erstattung zu Unrecht erbrachter Leistungen
- § 70 VwGO: Form und Frist des Widerspruchs
- § 74 VwGO: Klagefrist
- § 37 SGB X: Bekanntgabe des Verwaltungsaktes
Research as of: 10 November 2026