Many students wonder whether they should apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) or for BAföG when rent takes up most of their budget. The answer: both are separate payments with their own rules, authorities and calculations. This guide explains the differences, lists the BAföG rates for 2026 and shows what to consider when you apply to both.
Short answer: BAföG is a training grant for living costs, and half of it is an interest-free loan. The maximum rate for students aged 25 to 29 who live away from home is 992 euros a month (as of January 2026). Housing benefit is a grant towards housing costs that depends on income, household and rent. Whether you can receive both is decided by each authority case by case.
The most important points at a glance
- BAföG covers living costs, including a flat rate for accommodation. Housing benefit contributes to your rent.
- In the cases listed in the table below, the 2026 BAföG maximum rates range from 671 to 1,088 euros a month.
- Half of BAföG is an interest-free loan. Housing benefit is a grant that does not have to be repaid.
- Whether you can receive housing benefit alongside BAföG is decided by the housing benefit office under the exclusion rules of the Housing Benefit Act.
- The BAföG reform for 2027 is still a draft bill and changes the accommodation flat rates.
Housing benefit and BAföG: the main differences
BAföG is a training grant for living costs during your studies. Housing benefit is a grant towards housing costs, calculated under the Housing Benefit Act (in German) regardless of your course. The table compares both payments.
| Feature | BAföG | Housing benefit (Wohngeld) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Living costs, including a flat rate for accommodation | Grant towards rent or the cost of owned property |
| Responsible office | Office for training grants (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) | Housing benefit office of the municipality or district |
| Repayment | Half of the grant is an interest-free loan, repayment starts five years after the maximum funding period ends | Grant, not repaid |
| Depends on | Your own income, income and assets of parents or partner, training and age | Income, household size and the rent that counts |
What is the BAföG maximum rate for 2026?
The maximum rate is the upper limit made up of the basic amount, the accommodation flat rate and supplements. It is only paid if no income or assets are counted against it. The basic amount for students is 475 euros a month. The accommodation flat rate is 380 euros for living away from home and 59 euros for living with parents. Supplements for health and long-term care insurance apply from age 25.
| Situation (2026) | Maximum rate per month |
|---|---|
| Up to 24 years, living away from home | 855 euros |
| 25 to 29 years, living away from home | 992 euros |
| 25 to 29 years, living with parents | 671 euros |
| From 30 years, living away from home (maximum) | 1,088 euros |
| From 30 years, living with parents (maximum) | 767 euros |
Source of the table: the overview of BAföG rates up to 2026 published by the German Student Union (Deutsches Studierendenwerk), as of January 2026. The rates have applied since 1 August 2024 for new funding periods. For the detailed rules, see BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained.
Which allowances apply to BAföG?
The maximum rate is reduced by income and assets above the allowances. From 2026, your own income has a monthly allowance of 389 euros, determined after deducting the flat rate for work-related costs and the social flat rate. According to the Deutsches Studierendenwerk, income up to the mini-job limit of 603 euros a month does not reduce BAföG.
| Allowance | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Own income, monthly from 2026 | 389 euros | After deducting the flat rates |
| Assets up to age 29 | 15,000 euros | For trainees in this age group |
| Assets from age 30 | 45,000 euros | Higher limit |
| Parental allowance, married and living together, monthly | 2,540 euros | Before parental income is counted |
| Parental allowance, single, monthly | 1,690 euros | Before parental income is counted |
The authority calculates whether you are entitled and how much you get. For the application process, see the German guide BAföG beantragen: Antrag, Fristen und Unterlagen (in German).
When can housing benefit be relevant for students?
Housing benefit depends on the number of household members, their income and the rent that counts. The Housing Benefit Act contains exclusions in section 7 for household members who receive certain other benefits, for example basic security under Book II of the Social Code or help with living costs under Book XII. Whether and how BAföG counts in your case is checked by the housing benefit office using your documents. There is therefore no blanket answer.
If you need both, submit both applications and ask the housing benefit office in advance which details it requires. The German guide Wohngeld für Studenten: Wer Anspruch hat und wie du es beantragst (in German) covers the details.
Worked example: how to read the maximum rate
Assumption: you are 23, live away from home, have no own income above the allowance, and your parents are not taken into account. Then your entitlement matches the maximum rate for students up to 24 living away from home, which is 855 euros a month. This simplified case only shows how to read the table. In reality, income and assets are counted, so the amount is lower.
- Read the maximum rate from the table based on your age and living situation.
- Count your own income above the monthly allowance of 389 euros.
- Check parental income against the parental allowances, if they apply to you.
- Use the remaining amount as your grant and note how much of it is a loan.
What the BAföG reform for 2027 would change
The draft reform of BAföG (printed matter 21/8405) has not been passed. According to the draft, the accommodation flat rate for living away from home would rise from the summer semester 2027, while the flat rate for living with parents would be reduced step by step and later removed. These figures come from the draft. Until any law is promulgated, the current rates apply. More in the German article BAföG-Reform 2027: Was sich ändert und ab wann.
| Change under the draft | Value | Planned from |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation flat rate, living away from home | from 380 to 440 euros | 1 April 2027 |
| Accommodation flat rate, living with parents | from 59 to 41 euros, then removed | 1 August 2027, removal 1 April 2029 |
| Basic amount for students | from 475 to 503 euros | Winter semester 2027/28 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive housing benefit and BAföG at the same time?
This is not regulated in a blanket way. The Housing Benefit Act contains exclusion rules that refer to other benefits. Whether your BAföG funding plays a role is decided by the housing benefit office in your case. Submit the application and ask for a written decision.
Is housing benefit worth it if I live with my parents?
The BAföG accommodation flat rate for living with parents is 59 euros a month. Whether housing benefit is possible in this situation depends on whether you have your own tenancy with a rent that counts. The housing benefit office checks this with your documents.
Do I have to repay housing benefit?
Housing benefit is structured as a grant, so no repayment is due. Half of BAföG is a loan that must be repaid later, starting five years after the maximum funding period ends.
Which office do I apply to?
You apply for BAföG at the responsible office for training grants, and for housing benefit at the housing benefit office of your municipality or district. The two offices decide separately, so collect and compare both notices yourself.
What you can do now
- Check your situation: age, living arrangement, your own income and the assets or income of your parents or partner.
- Apply for BAföG early, because funding generally starts with the month of application.
- Ask the housing benefit office whether an application makes sense in your case, and request a written answer.
- Collect all proof of rent, income and training so that both applications are complete.
- Compare the notices and check whether grant and benefit together fit your situation.
Related guides
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- Student Housing Benefit: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
Sources: BAföG rates up to 2026, Deutsches Studierendenwerk (as of 2026); BAföG FAQ, Deutsches Studierendenwerk (as of January 2026); Housing Benefit Act, section 7 (gesetze-im-internet.de, no version date stated); Draft bill, printed matter 21/8405 (as of 7 October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
