Moving into your own flat is legally delicate for people under 25 who receive Grundsicherung. Under section 22(5) SGB II the costs of the new accommodation are recognised only if the Jobcenter gave an assurance before the move. If you sign without it, you risk that the rent is not paid or not paid in full.
This guide explains the assurance, names the cases in which the Jobcenter must give it and shows how deposit and moving costs are treated. It covers only the Jobcenter’s view. The general rent rules are in Housing costs under Grundsicherung (in German), the overview is in the hub on the new Grundsicherung (in German).
In short: When people under 25 move, the Jobcenter recognises the costs of the new accommodation only with prior assurance (section 22(5) SGB II, last updated November 2026). It must give the assurance for serious social reasons, for labour market integration or for a similarly serious reason.
Key points
- Obtain the assurance before you sign the tenancy agreement (section 22(4) and (5) SGB II).
- For serious social reasons, for a move that serves labour market integration and for a similarly serious reason, the Jobcenter must give the assurance.
- The assurance can be waived if it could not reasonably be obtained for an important reason.
- If someone moves to create the conditions for benefits, the costs are not recognised.
- Deposit and housing procurement costs also need an assurance, the deposit is generally granted as a loan.
What applies to a move under the age of 25?
Section 22(5) SGB II contains a special rule for people who have not yet turned 25. The costs of accommodation after a move are recognised only with the authority’s prior assurance. In addition no costs are recognised if the move is made with the intention of creating the conditions for benefit receipt.
The assurance must exist before the tenancy agreement is signed. Section 22(4) SGB II requires this generally for every move: before concluding a contract for new accommodation, the assurance of the competent authority should be obtained. Higher costs after a move are recognised only with prior written assurance.
When must the Jobcenter give its assurance?
Under section 22(5) SGB II the authority must give the assurance if one of the following grounds exists (last updated November 2026, paraphrased):
| Case | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Serious social reasons | The law names the ground without further examples. The Jobcenter assesses case by case whether staying in the current home is reasonable. |
| Labour market integration | The move serves integration into the labour market, for example because work or training can only be taken up that way. |
| Similarly serious reason | A reason of comparable weight, which the Jobcenter assesses case by case. |
In addition the Jobcenter can waive the assurance if it could not reasonably be obtained for an important reason. The Jobcenter decides case by case, the law gives no list of recognised reasons. Record your reasons in writing and attach evidence such as a job offer or a certificate.
What happens to the rent after a move?
The amount follows the general rules in section 22(1) SGB II. Actual costs are recognised as far as they are appropriate. During the one-year grace period the ceiling is one and a half times the abstractly appropriate costs, a 50 percent surcharge on the local limit. This is the cap that reports on rents for under-25s often mention. The grace period and its limits are described in Grace period in Grundsicherung (in German).
If someone moves within the same appropriateness area without the move being necessary, at most the previous need is recognised (section 22(4) SGB II). For a move to another area, the new authority gives the assurance if the costs are appropriate there.
| Situation | Consequence for rent |
|---|---|
| Move with prior assurance | Costs are recognised according to the assurance and within appropriateness |
| Move without assurance (under 25) | Costs are recognised only if the Jobcenter can waive the assurance |
| Move to create the conditions for benefits | Costs are not recognised |
| Move within the same area without necessity | At most the previous need |
| Move to another area | Assurance by the new authority if costs are appropriate |
How are deposit and moving costs treated?
Under section 22(6) SGB II, housing procurement and moving costs can be recognised with the prior assurance of the authority responsible until the move. A rental deposit and cooperative shares can be recognised with the assurance of the authority at the place of the new accommodation. The assurance should be given if the move was caused by the authority or is necessary and no accommodation can otherwise be found. Deposit and cooperative shares should be provided as a loan.
Assumption: The new flat has a net cold rent of 420 euros. The statutory maximum for a deposit is three net cold rents (section 551 of the Civil Code, BGB, excluding service-charge lump sums and advance payments), so 1,260 euros. Under the should-rule the Jobcenter would advance this amount as a loan. You repay it in instalments, the details are set by the Jobcenter. The example is simplified (last updated November 2026).
What does this mean for students?
Students whose course is eligible for BAföG in principle are regularly excluded from Grundsicherung under section 7(5) SGB II, see New Grundsicherung for students (in German). For them the question of an assurance usually does not arise. It becomes relevant for young people after dropping out or finishing a degree, or in vocational training. Students who cannot afford the rent should instead check student housing benefit and our guide Affordable student housing. A checklist for the move is in Moving to university checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to apply for anything before moving if I am under 25?
Yes, if you receive or want to claim Grundsicherungsgeld. Obtain the assurance in writing before you sign the tenancy agreement. Without it the Jobcenter can refuse the costs of the new accommodation.
Is the whole rent covered?
Not always. Actual costs are recognised only within appropriateness. In the grace period one and a half times the local limit is the ceiling. Anything above that you pay yourself.
Does leaving the parental home count as a serious reason?
The Jobcenter decides case by case. The law names serious social reasons, labour market integration and similarly serious reasons. A mere wish for your own flat is none of the named cases.
Who pays the deposit?
The Jobcenter can take it over as a loan under section 22(6) SGB II with a prior assurance. Without an assurance there is no benefit for it.
What to do now
- Look for the flat and find out the local appropriateness limit before you sign.
- Apply for the assurance in writing and state your reason with evidence.
- Wait for the written assurance and sign the tenancy agreement only afterwards.
- Apply for deposit and moving costs at the same time, also with an assurance.
- For questions about financial planning after moving out, support is available at how we work (in German).
Related guides
- New Grundsicherung since July 2026: what young adults need to know (in German)
- Housing costs under Grundsicherung: how the Jobcenter checks rent (in German)
- Grace period in Grundsicherung: what ends, what stays (in German)
- Applying for Grundsicherung: which documents the Jobcenter needs (in German)
- Student housing benefit: who qualifies and how to apply
Sources: Section 22 SGB II, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, last updated November 2026); Questions and answers on the reform of Grundsicherung, Federal Ministry of Labour (in German, 5 March 2026); Amendment record, 13th SGB II Amendment Act, Federal Law Gazette 2026 I No. 107 (in German, last updated November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
