Hartz IV: Apartment may only cost "reasonably".

Created: 08/18/2022, 11:27 am

By: Jasmine Farah

If you are a Hartz IV recipient, you will often be provided with an apartment.

However, this must not be too expensive for the costs to be covered.

According to Statista, around 3.78 million people received unemployment benefit II, also known as "Hartz-VI", in July 2022.

That accounts for 6.5 percent of the total population in this country.

Anyone who has been unemployed for a longer period of time receives a monthly amount from the state.

This is to ensure that living expenses can be covered.

In addition, Hartz IV recipients receive accommodation.

A clerk at the job center can provide help in finding accommodation in a counseling session.

Hartz IV: Provided housing may only cost “reasonably”.

In principle, every Hartz IV recipient is entitled to the assumption of the costs for accommodation and heating (KdU).

However, there are limitations.

According to the regulations in § 22 SGB II, the costs and the size of the apartment must be "reasonable".

But what does that mean?

As far as living space is concerned, a distinction is made between a single and a multi-person household.

With every additional person in the household, Hartz IV recipients are entitled to 15 square meters more.

© Ute Grabowsky/Imago

For single Hartz IV beneficiaries, the apartment should not be larger than 45 to 50 square meters.

For two people, on the other hand, it can be a little more, namely 60 square meters.

Each additional person adds 15 square meters.

However, these are only rough guidelines.

But: If you find an apartment with, for example, 50 square meters as a single person, but the rent is still within reasonable costs, it will usually still be approved and reimbursed.

As far as the amount of the rent is concerned, it is determined differently from municipality to municipality.

So what is considered "appropriate" in one does not necessarily apply to another, for example if you move house.

In general, however, it is advisable to look at what the rent index looks like on site and to orientate yourself at the lower end.

In principle, however, one can assume a rental price per square meter of less than four euros in rural areas.

In large cities like Munich, however, it can be twice as much or more per square meter.

Here you will find an up-to-date list of the local guidelines of the cities and municipalities.

Hartz IV: What to consider for additional costs, rental deposits and the like

However, the costs for accommodation and heating are not paid directly to the landlord, but to the recipient of the service.

If the latter uses the money verifiably for other things, the payments are made directly to the landlord in accordance with § 22 SGB II.

If there are reimbursements from the ancillary costs, these are counted towards the income in the month of payment and the entitlement to Hartz IV benefits is thus reduced.

If, on the other hand, you have to pay back, the job center will take care of it.

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Incidentally, this does not apply to rent arrears, but if there is a risk of eviction, the job center can step into the breach and carry this in the form of a loan.

Finally, it is important to know that the rental deposit, which is always deposited at the beginning of a tenancy, is also taken over by the job center as a loan.

Nevertheless, you should submit a corresponding application according to § 22 SGB II and have it approved well in advance of the move.

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