When housing costs rise, living allowances become an important source of support for many people in securing their livelihood. However, before the state subsidy is paid out, applicants must submit numerous documents—including proof of income, rental costs, and living situation. These documents enable the authorities to correctly assess eligibility.
In this article, you will learn which documents you need to submit, when you need them, how to submit them, and what mistakes to avoid.
Living allowance is not a flat-rate benefit, but is calculated on the basis of the individual circumstances of a household. In order to check eligibility, a “relevant application” must be submitted. This means that the responsible authority needs comprehensive information about income, rent, and living conditions, which must also be documented.
The evidence is not only used to calculate the benefit, but also as proof. If you are entitled to other basic benefits or transfer payments such as social assistance or citizens' allowance, the living allowance office will check carefully whether you are still entitled to living allowance. Otherwise, the costs of accommodation are already covered by such other benefits, which you would have to apply for as an alternative. This ensures fairness in the system and that public funds are used for their intended purpose and in the interests of the welfare state.
The living allowance office reviews your past income in order to estimate your income for the next 12 months, i.e., it makes a forecast. The following income and supporting documents are particularly important in this regard:
Proof of income: You can either submit your pay slips for the last 12 months or a statement of earnings from your employer and your last pay slip.
Notifications of transfer payments, e.g. citizens' allowance, unemployment benefit, or parental allowance
Pension notifications, including reduced earning capacity, widow's or orphan's pension
Payments from your employer, e.g., special benefits
Child benefit supplement, BAföG, BAB, or scholarships with corresponding notifications
Alimony payments (with bank statement as proof, if applicable)
If self-employed: EÜR or business evaluations
It is particularly important that you disclose irregular or one-off payments when providing proof of income. Many applicants forget to include holiday or Christmas bonuses, payments from their employer for anniversaries, bonus payments, or income from freelance work alongside their main job. Non-cash benefits such as company cars for private use or meal allowances may also be relevant and must be declared.
If you are self-employed, it may be helpful to not only submit a net income statement, but also a forecast for the coming months. This shows the living allowance office how your financial situation is developing, especially if you have fluctuating income.
Tip: Keep in mind that the living allowance office will attempt to make a forecast for the approval period, generally the 12 months following the application, based on the information you provide. Any foreseeable changes, such as in your salary, that you report in advance will assist the authorities and protect you from potential repayments.
The second important factor is the cost of accommodation. This includes rent, operating costs, and heating costs. Relevant supporting documents are:
Rental agreement (in particular stating the living space and rent)
Payment receipts or bank statements from the last few months
Operating cost statements
For property owners: service charge statements, proof of interest and principal payments, property tax assessment
Anyone who shares living space with others—for example, as a subtenant—should also provide proof of the rental agreement and the distribution of costs.
The size of the household has a direct impact on the amount of living allowance. All persons who live permanently in the apartment must therefore be listed with their personal data, including their income.
Possible forms of proof are:
Registration certificates
Birth certificates
Proof of assets, e.g., bank statements
School or university certificates (e.g., for educational purposes)
Notifications regarding care levels or disabilities
Titles regarding maintenance payments
If you receive or provide services for another person, this may also play a role—for example, in the case of care, maintenance, or shared households.
In addition, only persons who are legally resident in Germany may be supported. For this reason, proof of right of residence may also be required—especially for persons from the EU or third countries.
As a general rule, all supporting documents must be submitted in the month in which the application is made or as soon as possible thereafter. The decisive factor is therefore not the date on which the application is processed by the authorities, but the date on which you submit the application.
The more complete the application is, the faster the payment can be made. As a rule, those who submit the documents directly with the application receive the decision and their money much earlier.
You can submit your living allowance certificate in several ways:
In person at your local housing benefit office
By mail (copies are usually sufficient)
Digitally, e.g., via platforms such as LeistungsLotse
Important: Many authorities require a copy of your ID document (e.g., identity card or passport) to confirm your identity.
When submitting your data online, make sure that your personal data is protected and that your documents are clearly legible. PDF files are often better than cell phone photos.
More and more cities and municipalities now offer the option of submitting the entire application, including supporting documents, online—for example, via service portals or specialized platforms. The documents are transmitted directly via a secure upload form. In many states, the application is already digitized in accordance with OZG, which means that the entire process can be handled without media discontinuity.
Tip: With the “Easy Scan” feature from LeistungsLotse, you can easily scan, upload, and submit your documents using your cell phone.
Missing documents often lead to delays. The authorities will request these by letter, setting a deadline. If you do not respond, you risk having your application rejected or a significant delay in receiving your benefits.
Current documents must also be submitted when applying for renewal. If, for example, your income, your place of residence, or the composition of your household changes, you must also report this promptly and provide new evidence.
Here are some common mistakes you should avoid:
❌ No living allowance Proof of your rent payments (e.g. bank statements) attached
❌ Income of household members not specified
❌ Outdated notices submitted
❌ Missing information on the type of cash withdrawal (e.g., origin, intended use)
❌ Missing copy of identification document
If you already receive basic benefits under the AsylbLG or benefits under SGB XII (e.g., basic income support in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity), you are generally not entitled to additional living allowance, as these benefits already cover the costs of accommodation.
EU citizens usually have unrestricted access to living allowances, provided they are employed in Germany or have been living here for at least five years. People from third countries often have to prove their residence status in order to be eligible for living allowances.
Applying for living allowance does involve some effort, but with good preparation it is easy to manage. Those who submit the required documents completely and correctly will benefit from:
✅ faster processing
✅ legally binding decision
✅ full payment of the benefit due
To successfully apply for living allowance, you should have the following documents ready, depending on your living situation:
Proof of income: e.g., pay slips, pension statements, proof of transfer payments, notices in accordance with SGB XII, information on reduced earning capacity or basic income support, if applicable
Proof of residence and rent: rental agreement or sublease agreement, current rent statement or bank statements for rent payments, ancillary costs, calculation of living space or property tax notice, if applicable
Proof of ownership: land register extract, loan agreements, proof of payment for loans
Proof of household and registration: registration certificate, household overview, information on persons in the household
Proof of identity: copy of identity document, for non-EU citizens: proof of right of residence, if applicable
Additional documents depending on the case: e.g., proof of education, care, intended use of government subsidies or expenses
As a general rule, all supporting documents must be current, complete, legible, and comprehensible—especially with regard to the month in which the application is submitted.
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