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Housing benefit in Saxony-Anhalt: Slight increase for recipients in 2024
The article highlights the increase in housing benefit households in Saxony-Anhalt, especially in Jerichower Land and Magdeburg, and explains the effects of the Housing Benefit Plus reform on low-income households.
Housing benefit in Saxony-Anhalt: Slight increase for recipients in 2024
At the end of 2024, an increasing number of households in Saxony-Anhalt received housing benefit, namely 46,550, which means an increase of 195 households compared to the previous year (+0.4 percent). These figures make it clear that housing benefit is increasingly being taken up, particularly as a result of the “Housing Benefit Plus” reform introduced in 2023. This reform not only expanded the circle of eligible households, but also introduced the subsidy for heating costs and a climate component, which are important for many. Magdeburger News states that 42,215 households receive housing benefit as a rental subsidy, while 4,335 households receive a burden subsidy for owner-occupied home ownership.
Of the 46,550 households, 45,610 have all members who are entitled to housing benefit. The average monthly entitlement of these pure housing benefit households is 230 euros. This is a slight decrease compared to 239 euros last year. In the so-called mixed households, in which not all members are entitled to housing benefit, the average subsidy was only 206 euros, which corresponds to a decrease of 2.1 percent.
Housing benefit and pensioners
What is particularly striking is that in two thirds of households that only receive housing benefit, the main income earner is a pensioner. On average, these households only earn 960 euros per month, with housing benefit entitlement being around 209 euros. This fact underlines how important housing benefit is for older people, who often have to make do with limited financial resources to cover their housing costs. Halle Spektrum points out that this development reflects the increasing need for support for lower-income population groups.
The city of Magdeburg leads the cities in Saxony-Anhalt with 5,280 approved housing benefit applications. This clearly shows that the demand for housing assistance is high. In contrast, the Jerichower Land district is at the top of the households with the fewest applications, with only 1,500 approved applications. Messages Today reports that this increase in housing benefit households is a sign that many people are taking advantage of the opportunity to finance their housing costs and at the same time be able to do without basic security benefits.
In summary, it shows that housing benefit is not only an important element in the provision of housing, but also helps to reduce the pressure on lower-income households. With the introduction of “Housing Benefit Plus”, this trend is expected to continue, which could be beneficial for both households and communities as a whole.