Wohngeld Change Notification — What Must I Report?
During the approval period, you are legally obliged to report certain changes in your circumstances to the Wohngeld office immediately. Failure to do so can lead to reclaims, fines or, in serious cases, criminal consequences.
Key rule: All changes that could affect the amount of Wohngeld must be reported to the Wohngeld office — without culpable delay. This means: immediately after the change has occurred.
Which Changes Must Be Reported?
1. Income Changes
An increase in total income of more than 15 percent must be reported. This includes:
- Salary increase or starting a new job
- Start or increase of a pension or occupational pension
- Start or increase of maintenance payments
- Taking up a secondary job or Minijob
- Loss of work-related expenses or allowances
You should also report a decrease in income — this can lead to an increase in Wohngeld.
2. Changes in Household Composition
- Moving in or out of a household member
- Birth of a child
- Death of a household member
- Marriage or registration of a civil partnership
- Separation or divorce
- A child reaches adulthood or finishes education
3. Changes in Housing Situation
- Moving to another flat (within or outside Düsseldorf)
- Change in rent amount (increase or decrease)
- Change in floor area or number of rooms
- Subletting part of the flat
- Purchase or sale of residential property
4. Changes in Other Social Benefits
- Start or end of receipt of Bürgergeld or basic income support
- Start or end of BAföG
- Start or loss of child supplement
- Granting of a pension (statutory or private)
5. Changes in Assets
- Inheritance or gift of significant value
- Sale of property or other substantial assets
- Lottery win or other significant one-off income
How Do I Report Changes?
You can report changes in the following ways:
- Online: Via the service portal of the city of Düsseldorf — also via contact form
- In writing: By letter to the Wohngeld office stating your reference number
- In person: During opening hours at the Wohngeld office
Always state your reference number with every report — this speeds up allocation and processing. Attach evidence proving the change (e.g. new employment contract, new payslip).
Consequences of Failure to Report
- Reclaim: Unduly received Wohngeld must be repaid in full — even over longer periods
- Fine: Intentional or negligent failure to report can be penalised as an administrative offence with a fine
- Criminal proceedings: Deliberately false information or concealment of changes may lead to fraud proceedings
- Revocation of approval notice: Wohngeld may be cancelled entirely for the future