Refugees from Ukraine who have a residence permit and are employed in Germany but cannot afford to pay their rent can get housing benefit. You can apply for housing benefit at the responsible authority in your area, such as the social benefits office (Sozialamt).

The amount of housing benefit is determined in each individual case and depends on the following factors:

• your income
• your rent
• the number of people living in the household and their income

If you have a certificate showing that you are entitled to subsidised housing (Wohnberechtigungsschein, WBS), you and your family are eligible to move into a social housing flat. Social housing flats are subsidised by the government, and the rent is usually lower than for other flats. Social housing flats are also called WBS flats.

Your local housing office (Wohnungsamt) can give you more information about subsidised housing for Ukrainian refugees. They can also tell you where to find social housing flats and housing with few or no barriers for people with disabilities.

You can apply for a certificate showing that you are entitled to subsidised housing (Wohnberechtigungsschein, WBS) at your local housing office (Wohnungsamt). The certificate is valid for one year. The fees for issuing this certificate vary between 0 and 30 euros. In most cities and districts, you can download the application form from the local government website.

Overview of the responsible authorities (in German)

You will receive a social housing eligibility certificate only if your household has a marginal income. Your income threshold is based on that of the regional state in which you live.

The rules and income limits for a certificate showing that you are entitled to subsidised housing (Wohnberechtigungsschein, WBS) vary from federal state to federal state. Your annual household income cannot be more than the income limit in the federal state where you live. Household income means the income of everyone living in the household.

Information on income limits in the federal states (in German)

There are special conditions if you have a serious disability and/or are in need of care. This means that your income may be higher than the income limits.

For example, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, if the degree of disability is less than 80, your household income may exceed the income limit by 2,100 euros per year. This only applies if the person with a disability is cared for at home and requires care at grade 2 or 3.

It is best to ask your local housing office about the special conditions for people with a disability and/or people in need of care.

If you do not yet have a job and therefore no income of your own, or if you earn only a small amount and your income is currently not sufficient to cover your living costs, you are entitled to social benefits or Bürgergeld (citizen's income). Please see Social Benefits for more information.