Von B.Z./dpa
As expected, the number of applications for housing benefit in Berlin has increased significantly.
In the first four weeks since the new Housing Benefit Plus Act came into force, the housing benefit offices in the districts received 14,209 applications, 4,677 of which were online. This was announced by the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing on Wednesday, citing the current housing benefit report. Compared to January last year, the number of applications has more than doubled.
According to the information, 5,362 applications were finally processed by the end of January and 4,404 were approved under the new law.
► Most applications were made in Marzahn-Hellersdorf (2585), followed by Pankow (2412). The lowest number was in Steglitz-Zehlendorf with 1045. According to the Senate Administration in Berlin, the average amount of housing benefit approved is currently 277 euros per month. The district of Neukölln pays out the highest amount with an average of 353 euros, followed by Mitte with 322 euros.
By the end of January, there had been a total of 20,724 applications to the district housing benefit offices across Berlin, of which 5,069 were online – around a quarter. This data also includes the applications for the months October to December, which could already be made with a view to the new housing benefit law that will apply from January. “The online procedure is being used more and more, the districts are constantly expanding their staff, the advisory services are available,” commented Urban Development Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) on the development.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) emphasized after the Senate session on Tuesday a week ago that Berlin was the first federal state to start an online process for applying for and processing housing benefit. The federal government had increased the housing benefit at the beginning of the year and also significantly expanded the group of those entitled to it. Last year around 25,000 households in Berlin received housing benefit. Geisel had said in September that the number of recipients would triple to 75,000 as a result of the housing benefit reform.
Households that do not receive social benefits but still have little money can apply for housing benefit. This applies to both tenants and owners of apartments and houses who use their own home. The state subsidy is increased by an average of 190 euros per month.
