Wohngeld: paid in advance, but on which day?

Pick a month: the tool shows when the month covered by housing benefit starts, the first bank business day and the last one before it.

Time left until first bank business day in January, 4 January 2027

67days23hrs0min0sec

Wohngeld for January 2027

Mon 4 January

In advance: due at the start of the month. Your office sets the exact day; this is the first bank business day of the month.

Due fromFri 1 January
First bank business dayMon 4 January
Last bank business day beforeThu 31 December
Bank business days in the month20
How this is calculated
Wohngeld 2027: start of month and first bank business day
For the monthFirst bank business dayLast bank business day of the month before
JanuaryMon 4 JanuaryThu 31 December
FebruaryMon 1 FebruaryFri 29 January
MarchMon 1 MarchFri 26 February
AprilThu 1 AprilWed 31 March
MayMon 3 MayFri 30 April
JuneTue 1 JuneMon 31 May
JulyThu 1 JulyWed 30 June
AugustMon 2 AugustFri 30 July
SeptemberWed 1 SeptemberTue 31 August
OctoberFri 1 OctoberThu 30 September
NovemberMon 1 NovemberFri 29 October
DecemberWed 1 DecemberTue 30 November

Prepared by Radif Partners · Method · dates and statutes checked on 28 October 2026

Wohngeld, Germany's housing benefit, is paid monthly in advance into a bank account under section 26(2) of the Housing Benefit Act. There is no nationwide payment day, however: housing benefit is run by the federal states, and each housing benefit office or its data centre sets its own transfer date. In practice the money usually arrives in the last days of the previous month or the first days of the month it covers. The claim is due at the start of the month. For December 2026 the first bank business day is 1 December 2026; for January 2027 it is only 4 January 2027, because New Year's Day is a Friday followed by the weekend. The last bank business day before January is 31 December 2026. Under section 25 the award usually runs for twelve months, starting with the month of application. Your award notice or your housing benefit office tells you the day of your transfer; this page shows the window it falls in.

Month starts and bank business days in 2027

The table shows the payment window: the first bank business day of each month and the last bank business day before it. Your housing benefit office's day falls between the two in most cases. Payment in advance is set by section 26(2) WoGG.

Housing benefit 2027: payment window for each month
Housing benefit forLast bank business day beforeFirst bank business day
JanuaryThu 31 DecemberMon 4 January
FebruaryFri 29 JanuaryMon 1 February
MarchFri 26 FebruaryMon 1 March
AprilWed 31 MarchThu 1 April
MayFri 30 AprilMon 3 May
JuneMon 31 MayTue 1 June
JulyWed 30 JuneThu 1 July
AugustFri 30 JulyMon 2 August
SeptemberTue 31 AugustWed 1 September
OctoberThu 30 SeptemberFri 1 October
NovemberFri 29 OctoberMon 1 November
DecemberTue 30 NovemberWed 1 December

In 3 months of 2027 the 1st is not a bank business day. If your office books on the 1st, the money then comes on the next bank business day.

What the law sets

Housing benefit must be paid monthly in advance into the account of a household member; with consent it can go straight to the landlord. The award period starts on the 1st of the month of application and usually lasts twelve months. Under section 41 SGB I the claim is due as soon as it arises.

Housing benefit alongside other benefits

Housing benefit is often received together with Kinderzuschlag, which comes on the Kindergeld day. Alongside Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld), by contrast, there is usually no housing benefit, because housing costs are included there; its dates are on Grundsicherungsgeld payment dates. Every bank business day of the year is on bank business days 2027.

Housing benefit: your month

Wohngeld for April 2027

Thu 1 April

Due fromThu 1 April
First bank business dayThu 1 April
Last bank business day beforeWed 31 March
Bank business days in the month22
Open the full tool →

Common questions

When is Wohngeld transferred?

In advance for the current month, so around the turn of the month. The responsible housing benefit office sets the exact day, and it differs from one municipality to the next. Once you know the day of your first credit, you can usually count on it in the following months too.

Why does my housing benefit arrive on a different day from a friend’s?

Because there is no nationwide payment date. Unlike Kindergeld or pensions, housing benefit is paid by the states and municipalities. Each office books on its own cycle; the law only requires payment in advance. If in doubt, ask your housing benefit office for its booking day.

How long is Wohngeld awarded for?

Usually twelve months. The office can shorten the period or extend it up to 24 months if circumstances are expected to stay the same. It starts on the 1st of the month in which you applied. Your award notice states the exact period and the monthly amount.

When should I apply to continue?

In good time before the award period ends, so that no month goes without housing benefit. A new period starts with the month of application. If you apply only after the end, you usually receive nothing for the gap. Allow a few weeks for processing.

Keep going

Kinderzuschlag

Paid with Kindergeld, six months

BAföG

In advance, at the start of the month

Grundsicherungsgeld

Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld): in advance

Bank business days 2027

More booking days than in 2026

Official sources for this page

Prepared by

Publisher of an independent calendar of German benefit payment days: child benefit, pension, basic income support, unemployment benefit, parental allowance, housing benefit and BAföG

Updated on · Editorial policy · Contact

As of 2026, dates and statutes checked on