No Housing Benefit for Free Accommodation in Parents’ Home
Trainees who live in their parents’ home rent-free are excluded from housing benefit eligibility. Housing benefit is solely intended to assist with rental costs that the applicant incurs. Living rent-free is not considered an eligible housing situation.
Housing Benefit for Rent Payments in Parents’ Home
If trainees occupy their own room in their parents’ home and pay rent, they may be eligible for housing benefit. The prerequisite is that these rent payments are verifiable and a rental agreement or comparable written document exists, which specifies the rental amount.
Proximity of Parents’ Residence
Trainees whose parents live near the training site generally do not qualify for Vocational Training Assistance (BAB) or BAföG. However, if they move out on their own, they may apply for housing benefit under certain conditions, provided they bear the rental costs themselves and do not receive other types of assistance.
Proof of Independence
Housing benefit is granted only if the trainee lives independently and manages their own household. This means that even if living in their parents’ home, independence must be demonstrated by a rental agreement and regular rent payments. Without this proof, there is no claim to housing benefit.
Housing Benefit Upon Moving Out from Parents’ Home
Trainees who move out from their parents’ home and rent their own apartment can apply for housing benefit if they do not receive Vocational Training Assistance (BAB) or BAföG. The new residence must be registered as a primary residence, and the rental costs must be verifiably borne by the trainee.
Particularities in Need Communities
If the trainee lives in a need community with their parents, the entire income of the need community may be considered in the housing benefit calculation. In this case, a separate housing benefit application for the trainee alone is not possible. However, the parents can apply for the entire need community.
Relevance of Parents’ Residence for Training Support
The location of the parents plays a central role in the decision regarding eligibility for Vocational Training Assistance (BAB) or BAföG. If the training site is easily accessible from the parents’ residence, there is generally no entitlement to these forms of support. Housing benefit remains a potential alternative if the trainee moves out and lives independently.