Wohngeld Income Limits in Düsseldorf
Whether you receive Wohngeld depends crucially on your income. The income limits are set by law and are based on the number of household members and your city's rent level. Düsseldorf is classified as Rent Level IV, resulting in higher income limits and thus better chances of receiving Wohngeld than in cities with lower rent levels.
What Counts as Income?
For Wohngeld purposes, income generally includes all earnings of household members — not just employment income. The total income is calculated according to the Wohngeldgesetz (WoGG) and differs in some respects from taxable income.
Income includes:
- Gross income from employment (after deduction of flat-rate work-related expenses and social security contributions)
- Income from self-employment
- Pensions (statutory, occupational and private pensions)
- Unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I)
- Sick pay, maternity pay, parental allowance (the amount exceeding €300)
- Maintenance payments
- Income from letting and leasing
- Interest and capital gains
Not counted as income:
- Child benefit (Kindergeld)
- Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag)
- Bürgergeld and basic income support (these benefits already exclude Wohngeld)
- BAföG (generally also excludes Wohngeld)
- Care allowance (Pflegegeld)
- Wohngeld itself
- Certain allowances (e.g. for severely disabled persons or single parents)
Income Limits for Düsseldorf (Rent Level IV)
The following table shows the approximate maximum monthly total incomes up to which Wohngeld is possible. The actual limit also depends on your specific rent — the higher the rent, the higher the income limit.
| Household Members | Max. Income approx. (Rent Level IV) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | ca. 1.400 € |
| 2 Persons | ca. 1.900 € |
| 3 Persons | ca. 2.400 € |
| 4 Persons | ca. 2.900 € |
| 5 Persons | ca. 3.400 € |
| 6 Persons | ca. 3.900 € |
| 7 Persons | ca. 4.400 € |
| 8 Persons | ca. 4.900 € |
Important: These values are reference values and serve for initial orientation. The exact calculation follows the Wohngeld formula and depends on your actual rent or housing costs.
What is the maximum income for Wohngeld?
There is no fixed income limit that applies to everyone. The maximum income you can earn and still receive Wohngeld depends on your household size, your rent and the rent level (Mietstufe) of your city. That is why experts speak of individual income limits rather than a single earnings threshold.
The higher your rent and the larger your household, the higher your income may be. The resulting Wohngeld amounts are shown in the Wohngeld table for Düsseldorf →
Income Allowances
Various allowances are deducted from your calculated total income before the income relevant for Wohngeld is determined:
- General allowance: A percentage deduction from income (depending on household size and rent level)
- Single parent allowance: Additional amount for each minor child in the household
- Severe disability allowance: Additional amount for a degree of disability of at least 80 or for care dependency
- Maintenance allowance: For statutory maintenance obligations towards persons outside the household
Income Verification — Retrospective or Current?
For the Wohngeld application, you must provide proof of your income for the last twelve months. The average monthly income of the last twelve months is used as the basis for the Wohngeld calculation. With fluctuating income, this can have both positive and negative effects.
If your income changes by more than 15 percent during the approval period, you are obliged to report this to the Wohngeld office immediately. An increase in income can lead to reclaims of Wohngeld.