Your entitlement to housing benefit could increase if

• your total income has decreased by more than 10 percent,
• your rent or mortgage payments (excluding heating costs) have increased by more than 10 percent, or
• the number of members in your household has increased.

In the event of a rent increase or an increase in the cost of home ownership, there may also be a retroactive increase in housing benefit, but only up to the date on which you were granted housing benefit.

If your total income has decreased because there are fewer members in your household, this may also be a reason for an increase in housing benefit.

• Appeal

Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the decision on your application for housing benefit.

A decision on your application will be made without delay. The processing time depends, among other things, on the completeness of your information and the submission of the evidence required for processing the application. Any longer processing times will not be at your expense: housing benefit can also be granted and paid retroactively for periods from the date of receipt of the application.

Please submit the following documents:

• Proof of the change in rent or expenses
• Proof of the change in income
• Proof of the change in the number of household members to be taken into account