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Rental apartments in Nuremberg: Waiting times of several months
Photo: Helmut Meyer zur Capellen / imagebroker / IMAGO
In view of the expected waiting times of several months, the tenants' association has asked the housing benefit offices to issue more provisional decisions.
"The already long waiting times will be even longer with more entitled people than they already are," President Lukas Siebenkotten told the editorial network Germany.
"It would be important to make use of the possibility of provisional decisions, which lead to faster payment after an approximate check." Those affected need immediate support.
Since the turn of the year, more households are to be relieved of housing benefits.
You can apply for housing benefit if you do not receive social benefits but still have little money.
Simplified applications should ensure that the housing benefit flows quickly.
In Berlin, however, the main form alone comprises eight densely printed pages.
Detailed information on the income and assets of all members of a household is required.
"After the first few days - as expected - there was an enormous increase in housing benefit applications," said the general manager of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, to the "editorial network".
Some places reported a doubling of the number of cases to be processed.
»In many housing benefit offices, the applications are now piling up.
There is a lack of personnel for rapid processing," said Managing Director Helmut Dedy.
The city day does not expect a relaxation until spring.
Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) had promised further help for the municipalities in view of feared delays in the payment of housing benefit.
Up to 1.4 million are to be added to the 600,000 households with housing benefit.
The state subsidy is increased by an average of 190 euros per month.
This means that eligible households receive an average of around 370 euros per month.
mik/dpa-AFX
