Students who live with their parents receive a smaller accommodation allowance under the German training assistance act (BAföG) than students who live away from home. The government draft for the 30th BAföG amendment proposes to reduce this allowance and later remove it altogether. The details and dates are set out in printed matter 21/8405.
Short answer: The accommodation allowance for students living with their parents is currently 59 euros a month (as of November 2026). Under the draft (printed matter 21/8405, dated 7 October 2026), it falls to 41 euros from 1 August 2027 and no longer applies from 1 April 2029. The draft has not been adopted.
Key Points in Brief
- Under current law, the allowance for students living with their parents is 59 euros a month.
- The draft reduces it to 41 euros from 1 August 2027.
- From 1 April 2029 the draft provides for no allowance in these cases.
- The allowance for students living away from home is to rise from 380 to 440 euros on 1 April 2027.
- Until a law is promulgated, the current amounts apply, so your notice remains decisive.
Which Amounts Apply Today, and What Does the Draft Provide?
The table sets the allowance for students living with their parents against the figures for students living away from home. The current amounts are taken from printed matter 21/8405, where they are listed as the existing status. The future values are draft figures.
| Living situation | Today (as of November 2026) | Draft | Applicable from (draft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living with parents | 59 euros a month | 41 euros a month, then none | 1 August 2027, removal 1 April 2029 |
| Living away from home | 380 euros a month | 440 euros a month | 1 April 2027 |
The comparison shows that the draft treats the two living situations differently. For students living at home the allowance is reduced, while for students living away from home it rises. Whether this distinction survives the procedure is open.
What Does the Reduction Mean in Figures?
Calculation example (assumption): A student lives with her parents and receives the allowance of 59 euros a month. From 1 August 2027 it would be 41 euros, which is 18 euros less per month. Over twelve months that makes 216 euros less. This calculation concerns only the allowance and not the whole entitlement, which depends on income, assets and the parental allowance.
It is important that, under the draft, the removal from 1 April 2029 means a complete end of the allowance. Anyone who still lives at home at that point would no longer receive it, regardless of the amount of their other needs.
Why the Change Matters for Many Students
The accommodation allowance is only one component of the need. Even so, a reduction there has a direct effect on the monthly budget. Students who live at home often expect lower costs, because no separate rent is due. The draft targets exactly this living situation by lowering and later removing the allowance.
Further information on calculation and the parental allowance can be found in the glossary entry on the parental allowance (in German). The procedural steps of the draft are described in BAföG reform in the Bundestag: what is still open in the legislative process (in German).
For students who live at home and pay part of their expenses themselves, every euro counts. A reduction of 18 euros a month looks small at first glance, but it adds up over an academic year. Anyone who plans for it early avoids unpleasant surprises once a new notice arrives. Planning across several semesters is especially useful if the allowance later ends completely.
Planning should also include an honest record of your costs at home, for example travel, study materials and spending on leisure and health.
Key Dates at a Glance
The table shows the dates for the accommodation allowance under the draft. All dates remain subject to the further legislative process.
| Date | Change for students living with parents | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Allowance of 59 euros a month | Applicable law |
| 1 August 2027 | Allowance of 41 euros a month (Article 2) | Draft |
| 1 April 2029 | No allowance any more (Article 3) | Draft |
What You Can Check in Your Notice Now
Check whether your notice shows the living situation on which your funding is calculated. This classification decides which allowance applies, and it is the basis for any later change.
Also note the approval period and the date on which a new notice is due. This shows you early whether a reduction from 1 August 2027 will affect your next period. If you are unsure, ask the office to confirm the classification in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the reduction already apply today?
No. The reduction is part of the draft, which has not been adopted. Until a law is promulgated, the current amounts apply.
What happens if I still live with my parents in autumn 2027?
Under the draft, the allowance of 41 euros would apply, provided the law is promulgated as planned. Whether a transitional rule applies to your approval period is shown in your notice or in the office’s information. See also BAföG reform: does it also apply to ongoing funding? (in German).
What changes if I move into my own flat?
A student living away from home falls under the accommodation allowance for that situation, which the draft raises from 380 to 440 euros. Discuss a move with the office in advance, because the classification follows the actual place of residence and is recorded in the notice.
Is the accommodation allowance a fixed part of the need?
The allowance is a fixed component of the BAföG need. Whether and in what amount it is granted follows from the notice. A change under the draft would therefore only be felt with the new approval period.
Do I have to tell the office about a change of residence?
Changes in your circumstances should be reported to the office promptly. Otherwise it may recalculate your funding or reclaim an overpayment. This also applies to a move out of your parents’ home into your own flat, which changes the allowance.
Where can I find the exact rules?
The decisive rules are those of the BAföG and the figures in printed matter 21/8405. The accommodation allowance is shown together with other components in the funding calculation, so the notice is the best place to check your own case.
What to Do Next
- Check in your notice how your funding is calculated and which allowance applies.
- Follow the legislative process and the date of 1 August 2027.
- Plan with the current amount of 59 euros until a law is promulgated.
- Clear up questions about a change of residence or transitional rules early with the office.
Related Reading
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- BAföG-Wohnpauschale 2027: Wann die Erhöhung kommt (in German)
- BAföG-Stufenplan bis 2029: Die geplanten Erhöhungen im Überblick (in German)
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- Elternfreibetrag BAföG (in German)
Sources: Printed matter 21/8405, government draft for the 30th BAföG amendment, 7 October 2026 (German), German Bundestag, news item on the draft, October 2026 (German), German Bundestag, text archive on the BAföG reform, October 2026 (German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
