Housing benefit, child benefit, energy flat rate: who can count on which relief in 2023

Created: 01/10/2023 16:27

By: Patricia Huber

The federal government decided on three relief packages in 2022.

Some will still benefit from some measures in 2023.

An overview.

Berlin/Munich – The exploding costs and the associated high inflation have forced the federal government to act.

In the past year, numerous measures were adopted to help citizens financially.

Many, such as the nine-euro ticket or the fuel discount, have already ended.

But even in 2023 there will still be money from the state for many citizens.

An overview:

Housing benefit: More households are entitled

To date, around 600,000 households in Germany have been entitled to the so-called housing benefit.

This is financial support for households that do not receive social benefits but still have little money at their disposal.

Up to 1.4 million more households have also been able to receive housing benefit since January 1, 2023.

Anyone who would like to check whether they are entitled to it can use the online housing benefit calculator from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building.

Anyone wishing to claim the benefit must then submit an application to the responsible housing benefit authority.

More child benefit for every child

There is also good news for families in 2023.

From January 1st there will be 250 euros child benefit per month and per child.

That means a plus of 31 euros for the first and second child and a plus of 25 euros per month for the third child.

The traffic light coalition wants to relieve families because of the high prices.

In the future, child benefit in Germany is to be replaced by basic child security, which is to bundle various family benefits.

Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) is aiming for a corresponding draft law for autumn 2023.

In addition, the amount of the child supplement has increased to 250 euros.

Bafög and energy allowance for students

In the course of the Bafög reform, allowances and requirement rates for students have increased significantly from the winter semester 22/23.

The maximum rate is now 934 euros including surcharges.

So far, 290 euros could be earned by working without this having an impact on the amount of student loans received, from January the limit will rise to 330 euros.

In addition, the federal government has announced the one-off payment of 200 euros for students in the third relief package to mitigate the increased cost of living, which is to be paid out at the beginning of 2023.

Energy allowance for the self-employed

While most employees and pensioners received the so-called energy flat rate of 300 euros in 2022, the self-employed still had to be patient.

You can now get the money back through taxes.