Increase in housing benefit households: pensioners benefit in Saxony-Anhalt!

Increase in housing benefit households: pensioners benefit in Saxony-Anhalt!

There is currently a small but notable increase in housing benefit households in Saxony-Anhalt. At the end of 2024, a total of 46,550 households received housing benefit, which means an increase of 195 households compared to the previous year. This increase corresponds to an increase of 0.4 percent, reports hallanzeiger. The figures show that housing benefit continues to provide important support for many households.

Of the 46,550 housing benefit households, 42,215 received the support as a rent subsidy. In addition, 4,335 households used the burden subsidy for owner-occupied residential property. This provides additional financial flexibility, which is particularly important for households that rely on a low income.

Who benefits from housing benefit?

What is particularly striking is that 66.6 percent of households that receive pure housing benefit have a pensioner as their main income earner. These households had an average total income of 960 euros per month, while the average housing benefit entitlement was 209 euros. Compared to the previous year, the amount for the monthly housing benefit entitlement fell, which is now 230 euros. That's a decrease of 239 euros in 2023, according to hallespektrum.

Another interesting point is that 98 percent of households in Saxony-Anhalt that receive housing benefit are entitled to support for all members of the household. This reflects the purpose of housing benefit: namely to ensure an adequate housing situation and to minimize the risk of being dependent on basic security.

Where do you apply for housing benefit?

The city of Magdeburg leads the list of housing benefit applications with 5,280 approved cases, followed by other cities and districts. In contrast, the Jerichower Land district recorded the fewest cases with only 1,500 approved applications. These differences could be due to regional economic conditions and the cost of living, which significantly influence how many households need assistance.

The housing benefit reform “Housing Benefit Plus”, which came into force on January 1, 2023, has further increased the number of eligible households and introduced new benefit components such as the heating cost and air conditioning components. This creates an additional incentive to apply for housing benefit, especially for lower-income households who do not receive other state benefits. This shows that Saxony-Anhalt will be able to finance their living space better in the future in order to have a good and safe home.