The heating cost component of German housing benefit (Wohngeld) for 2027 is expected to fall, according to the figures available so far. It is a flat allowance that housing benefit includes to cover heating costs. If you receive Wohngeld or plan to apply in 2027, it helps to separate what is documented officially from what is only described as a plan. For the wider housing picture for students, see our overview Wohnen im Studium (in German).
Short answer: According to a minor parliamentary inquiry, the government plans to halve the permanent heating cost component of housing benefit. The government answer (Bundestag printed paper 21/7689 of 21 August 2026) does not state an amount for 2027. Based on the sources we checked, the plan is still in the legislative process and has not been adopted. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The heating cost component is a flat allowance added to housing benefit, not a refund of actual heating costs.
- The preamble of a minor parliamentary inquiry names the intention to halve the permanent heating cost component.
- The government answer does not state an amount for 2027, neither for single households nor for other households.
- A suspension of the regular adjustment on 1 January 2027 is described in an addition to section 43 of the Housing Benefit Act (Wohngeldgesetz).
- A rule becomes binding only once it is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt).
What is the heating cost component in housing benefit?
Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is a subsidy towards rent for households with a low income. It is calculated under the Housing Benefit Act and depends on three factors: income, the rent that counts towards the calculation, and the number of people in the household. The heating cost component is a fixed part of this calculation. It takes heating costs into account as a flat sum. The authority therefore does not use the landlord’s actual heating bill but applies a fixed amount.
For households that receive housing benefit, the size of this amount has a direct effect on the payment. That is why it is worth looking at the documents that would actually change the rules. Headlines rarely make clear whether a rule has been adopted.
What the Bundestag papers say
The minor inquiry from the AfD parliamentary group is titled “Geplante Kürzungen beim Wohngeld, Kostenverlagerungen in die Grundsicherung und Belastungen der Kommunen” (planned cuts to housing benefit, shifts of costs to basic income support and burdens on municipalities). It is recorded as Bundestag printed paper 21/7503. The government answer carries the number 21/7689 and is dated 21 August 2026. It is the basis for the statements below.
The preamble of the questions names the intention to halve the permanent heating cost component. No amount is given there. One question refers to an addition to section 43 of the Housing Benefit Act, a new subsection 11, which would suspend the adjustment of housing benefit for 2027. The document contains no further figures, so the effect on the benefit tables is still open.
The table below separates the statements by their stage in the process. It relies only on the printed paper named above.
| Point | What the document says | Stage of the process |
|---|---|---|
| Heating cost component | Intention to halve the permanent component (preamble) | Not adopted, according to the sources checked |
| Amount for 2027 | No amounts stated, including for single households | Open |
| Adjustment on 1 January 2027 | Suspension through a new subsection 11 of section 43 of the Housing Benefit Act | In the legislative process, not adopted |
Source of the table: Bundestag printed paper 21/7689 of 21 August 2026.
What would a halving mean in practice?
Whether the payment falls, and by how much, depends on how the component enters the calculation. Halving a flat sum does not automatically reduce housing benefit by the same share. To know that, you would need to see how the allowance is offset in the version that is finally promulgated.
The effect on each household therefore depends on several factors: the size of the household, the income that counts, and the rent. If you need a worked example, base it on the figures of the promulgated version. As long as those figures are missing, any calculation is an assumption and must be labelled as one.
How a plan becomes a rule in force
A bill takes effect only after it goes through the legislative procedure. This includes deliberation and a decision in the Bundestag, the involvement of the Bundesrat where required, and promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette. Only the promulgated version applies. Drafts can change until then, including amounts and dates.
For housing benefit there is an additional point. The housing benefit office issues its decision under the law that applies at that time. A decision issued in 2026 therefore says nothing about the values that will apply in 2027.
- Read your current housing benefit decision and note household size, income and rent.
- Follow the procedure in the Bundestag documentation system and in the Federal Law Gazette.
- Report changes to income, rent or household to the housing benefit office in time.
Who is affected?
Households that receive or apply for housing benefit are affected. Whether a household is entitled depends on income and rent. Students qualify only under certain conditions. The requirements are explained in our guide Housing benefit for students (in German).
Families, pensioners and young professionals on a low income can also be affected by the heating cost component. Here too, the individual case decides.
Terms used in the documents
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Heating cost component | Flat allowance in housing benefit that takes heating costs into account |
| Adjustment (Fortschreibung) | Regular update of housing benefit values to changes in rents and incomes |
| Minor inquiry (Kleine Anfrage) | Parliamentary question from a parliamentary group to the government |
| Printed paper (Drucksache) | Official Bundestag document, here number 21/7689 |
| Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) | Official gazette in which laws are published and take binding effect |
Frequently asked questions
Has the halving of the heating cost component been adopted?
Not according to the official documents we checked. The minor inquiry describes an intention, and the government answer contains neither a decision nor an amount. The binding version is what is later published in the Federal Law Gazette.
From when would a possible change apply?
The documents refer to the year 2027. The exact date from which a change would apply is only fixed in the promulgated rule. Until then the current law applies, and a date taken from a draft is not a certainty.
Do students have a right to housing benefit?
That depends on the conditions of the Housing Benefit Act and on your personal situation, for example on whether you already receive training support. An overview of the conditions is in our guide Housing benefit for students (in German).
Where can I find a reliable amount?
Only figures from the promulgated version or from the official explanatory memorandum are reliable. Ask your housing benefit office for the current position before you calculate anything. As long as no amount appears in an official document, this guide does not name one.
What to do now
- Check whether you will receive housing benefit in 2027 and confirm the details with your housing benefit office.
- Follow the legislative procedure and watch for the promulgated version in the Federal Law Gazette.
- Keep income, rent and household size up to date and report changes on time.
- Calculate only with promulgated values, not with headlines or drafts.
Related reading
- Wohnen im Studium: Miete, WG, Wohnheim und Wohngeld im Überblick (in German)
- Student Housing Benefit: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- Wohngeld 2027: Warum die reguläre Anpassung ausfallen soll (in German)
- Wohngeld und Pendelkosten 2027: Warum hohe Fahrtkosten weniger zählen (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
